TikTok has received a record fine for allowing underage children to use the app, with the FTC revealing the Musical.ly app had 65 million users in the US, a “large percentage” of which were underage.
TikTok has reacted by requiring US users to verify their age when they open the app – this will be implemented on a trust basis and has not been rolled out beyond the US.
TikTok app fined in U.S. for illegally gathering children's data https://t.co/v97b1xcjqU pic.twitter.com/C05nP5BYZz
— CTV News (@CTVNews) February 28, 2019
John Fokker, Head of Cyber Investigations at McAfee:
“The tech industry, and TikTok in this specific instance, needs to up its game when it comes to age verification and protecting young users. But the responsibility also lies with parents to ensure their children are only signing up for services they’re old enough and wise enough to use. Despite our children becoming heavy tech users, we found that only two fifths of British parents monitor their children when using internet-connected devices.
“Parents need to be aware of the risks themselves, monitor their children when using internet-connected devices and begin to have conversations with their kids about online dangers. This will arm children with the knowledge they need to stay safe online.”
