TikTok gets sued by 12 year-old girl from London for breaching privacy norms

A 12-year old girl from London is suing Social media and short video platform TikTok, regarding the use of her personal data. The London child “intends to go to a court asserting — rightly or wrongly — that her privacy rights and those of others like her have been infringed in ways that call for a remedy,”

A London court has granted the girl anonymity so that she can take TikTok to court. Judge Mark Warby said in a decision on Wednesday, “Not granting her anonymity could “have a chilling effect on the bringing of claims by children to vindicate their data-protection rights.”.

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Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, will be taking the case to court on behalf of the girl. The European Union’s data protection rules are very strict with regards to how apps, websites and platforms can collect, store and use any user’s data.

It was in June last year that the EU had said they will investigate TikTok’s processing and practices. “Privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok, and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to protect all users, and our younger users in particular,” says TikTok in a statement, reported by Bloomberg.