● Covered by 5 sources · 6 reportsMedium impact2 negative
Ofcom Probes TikTok's Child Safety Due to Age Verification Concerns
Key points
- Ofcom investigates TikTok for age verification practices.
- Investigation focuses on 'age inference' technology effectiveness.
- Possible exposure of minors to harmful content identified.
- Compliance failures may lead to heavy fines for TikTok.
- TikTok claims it meets Online Safety Act obligations.
- Ofcom's probe follows a May review criticizing TikTok for not being "safe enough" for children.
- Ofcom's investigation examines compliance with Section 12 of the Online Safety Act 2023.
- Fines for non-compliance could reach £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue.
- Ofcom can also apply to have sites blocked or restricted in the UK.
- Harmful content includes posts about disordered eating, self-harm, suicide, and pornography.
- The European Commission issued preliminary findings against TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
- The EU suggests TikTok adjust default settings for minors' public accounts.
- EU fines for non-compliance could be up to 6% of the company’s global annual revenue.
Overview
The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, is conducting an investigation into TikTok to evaluate the effectiveness of its child safety protocols, specifically focusing on its age verification methods. This marks a step in ensuring adherence to the Online Safety Act 2023, which outlines how platforms should mitigate risks to minors online.
Focus on Age Verification
Ofcom's concerns center around TikTok's 'age inference' technology, which estimates a user's age based on their interaction with the platform rather than formal documentation like IDs. This method is under scrutiny for potentially failing to correctly identify minors, thereby exposing them to harmful content.
‘Age inference’ is not listed among the highly effective age verification models as per the UK’s legal standards, sparking further concern from Ofcom.
Potential Consequences
If TikTok is found in violation of the Online Safety Act, it could face substantial penalties, including fines up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue. The severe consequences reflect the seriousness of compliance with children's online safety measures as mandated by the law.
TikTok's Response
TikTok maintains confidence in its compliance with the Online Safety Act, pledging cooperation with Ofcom throughout the investigation. The platform asserts that it has implemented adequate systems to protect its youngest users from harmful content.
Updates
- Ofcom's probe follows a May review criticizing TikTok for not being "safe enough" for children.
- Ofcom's investigation examines compliance with Section 12 of the Online Safety Act 2023.
- Fines for non-compliance could reach £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue.
- Ofcom can also apply to have sites blocked or restricted in the UK.
- Harmful content includes posts about disordered eating, self-harm, suicide, and pornography.
- The European Commission issued preliminary findings against TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
- The EU suggests TikTok adjust default settings for minors' public accounts.
- EU fines for non-compliance could be up to 6% of the company’s global annual revenue.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
The European Commission (EC) has issued preliminary findings accusing TikTok of not adequately protecting minors' privacy, specifically regarding public default settings for accounts and content recommendations. This non-compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA) could result in a fine of up to six percent of TikTok's annual revenue.
The European Commission issued preliminary findings against TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA), stating that protections for minors should be default, not opt-in. The EU specifically recommends that TikTok adjust default settings for minors' public accounts so content is only visible to chosen users and not recommended in the For You feed, with potential fines up to 6% of global annual revenue for non-compliance.
The UK’s Ofcom is investigating TikTok for inadequate age verification measures, potentially violating the Online Safety Act. The investigation follows concerns that TikTok’s age inference methods may fail to protect children from harmful content, exposing them to risks online.
Ofcom is investigating TikTok's child safety protocols under the Online Safety Act 2023, assessing if the platform adequately protects children from harmful content. The inquiry is driven by concerns regarding TikTok's age verification methods and its effectiveness in mitigating risks to minors.
The UK regulator Ofcom is investigating TikTok for potentially failing to protect children from harmful content. The investigation focuses on TikTok's methods for verifying user ages, which may not adequately identify minors, potentially exposing them to dangerous material.
Ofcom has launched an investigation into TikTok's effectiveness in verifying user ages and protecting children from harmful content. This follows a government mandate prohibiting under-16s from several platforms, highlighting ongoing regulatory scrutiny on social media's child safety practices.