TikTok has decided to pay a £12.7m penalty imposed by the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office after withdrawing its appeal against the enforcement action. The fine was originally issued in 2023 following an investigation into the platform’s failure to adequately enforce its minimum user age requirement of 13 years.
The ICO’s investigation found that TikTok did not implement sufficient safeguards to prevent underage access to its service. Between 2018 and 2020, the period covered by the enforcement action, the watchdog determined that up to 1.75 million UK children under 13 were using the platform. The investigation also identified deficiencies in how TikTok handled user data, including inadequate disclosure of data collection and usage practices and a failure to obtain parental consent where required.
TikTok stated that while it disagreed with the ruling, it had chosen to settle the matter given that the violations occurred during an earlier period. The company indicated it has since introduced numerous youth safety measures and policies to address the concerns raised. Additionally, TikTok withdrew an appeal against an ICO request for information regarding how its algorithm processes teenagers’ personal data and serves content, allowing the watchdog to resume its investigation into these matters.
The enforcement action comes as UK authorities prepare to implement new regulations. The government has announced plans to establish an under-16 age limit for social media platforms taking effect next year. Communications regulator Ofcom has stated that enhanced efforts from technology companies will be necessary to enforce age restrictions. International experience from Australia, which implemented a social media ban for under-16s in December of the prior year, has shown that substantial numbers of underage users have retained accounts, created new ones, or circumvented age verification systems.
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