Tiktok receives $16 million fine from the UK

Tiktok is receiving backlash and a hefty $15.8 million fine from the UK concerning a violation of children's privacy. According to the UK's General Data Protection Regulation all personal data collecting companies are required to ask for a guardian's permission to have an account for any minor under the age of 13. John Edwards from UK Information stated "There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world". Although this was mandatory, in 2020 the company was allowing minors under 13 to create an account without any parental guidance. Despite their actions, tiktok's spokesperson stated "We invest heavily to keep under 13s off the platform". Not only has the app violated privacy in the UK but other countries like the US. and Canada are banning the app from government issued devices.