France has imposed a fine of 5 million euros (nearly US$5.4 million) on TikTok for failing to abide by its policies on user consent and online privacy concerning tracking cookies, Reuters reported.
While TikTok said it has addressed the issue, the CNIL – France’s regulator for data protection – clarified that its investigation only included the short-video platform’s website and not its smartphone apps.
The European Union requires platforms to explicitly ask for permission from users in the case of social plug-in cookies and third-party cookies used for behavioral advertising. Additionally, there must be a straightforward way for users to decline these cookies.
The CNIL said it was not as simple for users of the TikTok website to decline online trackers as it was to accept them. It also found that the platform’s use of cookies was not appropriately communicated to its users.
TikTok also came under fire last month after its employees accessed the company’s user data of two journalists without proper authorization.
See also: TikTok Shop has set SEA on fire within months
Currency converted from euro to US dollar: US$1 = 0.92 euros.
Editing by Thu Huong Le and Lorenzo Kyle Subido
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