Judge: 'Dutch foundations can sue TikTok'

Three Dutch foundations that want to file a lawsuit against TikTok have been given the green light. Together they demand about 9.4 billion euros from the Chinese social network, because it would have violated the privacy of Dutch users. This means that the substantive procedure can start.

This article was published on November 9th, 2022 on Vpngids.nl. Written by Anton Mous.

SOMI calls TikTok 'profiling and advertising machine'

TikTok is a social network where users can post short videos. The platform has grown rapidly in recent years. According to the latest estimates, TikTok has about one billion users worldwide. Our country has about three million active TikTokkers. Thanks to advertising and advertising revenues, the annual turnover this year will be about 10 billion dollars.

At the same time, TikTok has been under fire for some time for alleged privacy breaches. In our country there are three foundations that want compensation from the company for that reason. The Foundation for Market Information Research (SOMI) filed a claim for damages against the social network in June 2021. The foundation is claiming damages of 1.4 billion euros for violating European privacy and consumer legislation. Furthermore, SOMI believes that TikTok does not comply with the transparency obligations arising from the GDPR.

Lawyer Douwe Linders called TikTok a profiling and advertising machine. “SOMI has a strong case and we will fight for the interests of its supporters. But a giant like TikTok will not give in easily. We have to be patient and work carefully," said the lawyer, who claims to represent more than 64,000 parents across Europe.

These foundations also demand billions from TikTok

Together with the Consumers' Association, the Take Back Your Privacy Foundation took TikTok to court in August last year. “TikTok has scandalously abused children, sometimes very young. It misled them, invaded their privacy and made gross profit on their backs. Pure exploitation, which must be compensated. And in a way that also acts as a deterrent for other companies that do the same," said Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumers' Association. The organizations are claiming a total of more than 2 billion euros in compensation.

Then there is the Massaschade & Consument Foundation. They believe that TikTok collects too much information from users for the purpose of creating user profiles. In this way, the platform wants to serve personalized advertisements. The foundation believes that TikTok violates all kinds of national and international laws and regulations. For example, the company is not open and honest about what data it collects and for what purposes. The foundation therefore demands compensation of 6 billion euros.

Please find the link to the full article (in Dutch): https://www.vpngids.nl/nieuws/rechter-nederlandse-stichtingen-mogen-tiktok-aanklagen/