Latest news with #DataProtectionCommission
Reuters
24 minutes ago
- Business
- Reuters
Irish data regulator opens new inquiry into TikTok over data stored in China
DUBLIN, July 10 (Reuters) - Ireland's powerful Data Protection Commission has opened a new inquiry into TikTok over the storage of European users' data in China after the short-video platform disclosed in April that some data had temporarily been stored on Chinese servers. TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, was in May fined 530 million euros ($620 million) by the Irish commissioner over concerns on how it protects European users' information, some of which is remotely accessed by staff in China. The new inquiry, by TikTok's lead regulator in the EU as its European headquarters is located in Ireland, will look specifically at the storage of data in China, which was not considered in the previous probe. The Irish regulator said in May that while TikTok had told it throughout the four-year inquiry that it did not store EU data in China, it disclosed in April that it had discovered two months earlier that a limited amount of data was stored in China and since deleted. TikTok is appealing the May 2 decision and said the ruling risked setting a precedent with far-reaching consequences for companies and entire industries across Europe that operate on a global scale. A spokesperson for TikTok was not immediately available to comment on the new inquiry. ($1 = 0.8532 euros)
The Citizen
31 minutes ago
- Business
- The Citizen
TikTok under renewed EU scrutiny as Irish watchdog probes data transfer to China
TikTok's admission that it stored European user data on Chinese servers has sparked a new investigation by Ireland's Data Protection Commission. An Irish regulator helping police European Union data privacy said Thursday it had launched an investigation into TikTok over the transfer of European users' personal data to servers in China. TikTok was fined 530 million euros ($620 million) in May by the Data Protection Commission over sending personal data to China, though the Chinese social media giant had insisted this data was only accessed remotely. 'Deep concern' The DPC on Thursday said it had been informed by TikTok in April that 'limited EEA user data had in fact been stored on servers in China,' then deleted, contrary to evidence previously presented by the company. The watchdog said it had expressed 'deep concern' in its previous investigation that 'TikTok had submitted inaccurate information'. TikTok plans to appeal the May fine — the second largest ever imposed by the DPC. The social media giant has been in the crosshairs of Western governments for years over fears personal data could be used by China for espionage or propaganda purposes. But TikTok has insisted that it has never received any requests from Chinese authorities for European users' data. ALSO READ: WATCH: TikTok ASMR trend heads to the massage studio in SA Big tech TikTok, which has 1.5 billion users worldwide, is a division of Chinese tech giant ByteDance. But since it has its European headquarters in Ireland, the Irish authority is the lead regulator in Europe for the social platform — as well as others such as Google, Meta and Apple. The DPC is tasked with ensuring companies comply with the EU's strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), launched in 2018 to protect European consumers from personal data breaches. Its latest probe against the Chinese-owned giant will determine 'whether TikTok has complied with its relevant obligations' to comply with the GDPR. The data protection watchdog has imposed a number of massive fines against tech companies as the EU seeks to rein in big tech firms over privacy, competition, disinformation and taxation. TikTok data For years, TikTok promoted its data protection policies. It made much of what it called Project Clover, a plan to invest 12 billion euros (currently $14 billion) in European data security over 10 years, from 2023 onwards. ALSO READ: Bolt pokes holes in TikToker Simthande Myeza's abduction claims It claimed that Europeans' data was by default stored in Norway, Ireland, and the United States and 'that employees in China have no access to restricted data,' such as phone numbers or IP addresses. TikTok told AFP in May that it had 'promptly' informed the DPC of a technical issue regarding data transfers. Looming US ban The social media giant is also under pressure in the United States where it faces a looming ban if it does not find a non-Chinese buyer. US President Donald Trump said at the end of June that a group of buyers had been found for TikTok, adding that he could name the purchasers in a matter of weeks. NOW READ: TikTok ban deadline looms as US seeks non-Chinese owner
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
EU regulator opens TikTok probe over fresh China data transfer claims
An Irish regulator helping police European Union data privacy said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into TikTok over the transfer of European users' personal data to servers in China. TikTok was fined 530 million euros (US$620 million) in May by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) over European data transfers to China, though the Chinese social media giant had insisted this data was only accessed remotely. The DPC on Thursday said it had been informed by TikTok in April that 'limited EEA user data had in fact been stored on servers in China,' contrary to evidence presented by the company. The regulator said it had expressed 'deep concern' in its previous investigation that 'TikTok had submitted inaccurate information'. TikTok is a division of Chinese tech giant ByteDance. TikTok was fined US$620 million in May by the Data Protection Commission over European data transfers to China. Photo: TNS But since it has its European headquarters in Ireland, the Irish authority is the lead regulator in Europe for the social platform – as well as others such as Google, Meta and Apple.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Irish data regulator opens new inquiry into TikTok over data stored in China
Ireland's powerful Data Protection Commission has opened a new inquiry into TikTok over the storage of European users' data on servers in China, the regulator said on owned by China's ByteDance, was in May fined 530 million euros ($620 million) by the Irish commissioner over the transfer of European user data to new inquiry, by TikTok's lead regulator in the EU as it is registered in Ireland for its HQ in the bloc, will look specifically at the storage of data.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
TikTok faces fresh European privacy investigation over China data transfers
LONDON (AP) — TikTok is facing a fresh European Union privacy investigation into user data sent to China, regulators said Thursday. The Data Protection Commission opened the inquiry as a follow up to a previous investigation that ended earlier this year with a 530 million euro ($620 million) fine after it found the video sharing app put users at risk of spying by allowing remote access their data from China. The Irish national watchdog serves as TikTok's lead data privacy regulator in the 27-nation EU because the company's European headquarters is based in Dublin. During an earlier investigation, TikTok initially told the regulator it didn't store European user data in China, and that data was only accessed remotely by staff in China. However, it later backtracked and said that some data had in fact been stored on Chinese servers. The watchdog responded at the time by saying it would consider further regulatory action. 'As a result of that consideration, the DPC has now decided to open this new inquiry into TikTok,' the watchdog said. 'The purpose of the inquiry is to determine whether TikTok has complied with its relevant obligations under the GDPR in the context of the transfers now at issue, including the lawfulness of the transfers,' the regulator said, referring to the European Union's strict privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation. TikTok did not respond immediately to a request for comment. TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, has been under scrutiny in Europe over how it handles personal user information amid concerns from Western officials that it poses a security risk. Under GDPR, European user data can only be transferred outside of the bloc if there are safeguards in place to ensure the same level of protection. Only 15 countries or territories are deemed to have the same data privacy standard as the EU, but China is not one of them.
