TikTok’s collection and use of personal information being investigated by Canadian privacy authorities

Social media short-form video giant TikTok is under investigation in Canada over its use and collection of users’ personal information.

On Thursday, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada announced it was launching a joint probe into the platform, alongside provincial privacy authorities from Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.

The investigation was initiated “in the wake of now settled class action lawsuits in the United States and Canada, as well as numerous media reports related to TikTok’s collection, use and disclosure of personal information,” read a statement announcing the investigation.

The privacy regulators say they will be examining:

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  Whether TikTok’s practices comply with Canadian privacy legislation;
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  Whether valid and meaningful consent is being obtained for the collection, use and disclosure of users’ personal information; and
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  Whether the company is meeting its transparency obligations.

The team of privacy commissioners note that a significant portion of TikTok’s users are younger, and they feel there is a heightened importance to protecting children’s privacy.

“The joint investigation will have a particular focus on TikTok’s privacy practices as they relate to younger users, including whether the company obtained valid and meaningful consent from these users for the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information,” reads the release.

Among the current Canadian laws the investigation will examine TikTok’s compliance with are: the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Quebec’s Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector and the Act to Establish a Legal Framework for Information Technology, and Alberta and British Columbia’s respective Personal Information Protection Acts.

Citing the active investigation, the federal privacy commissioner’s office said no additional details will be provided at this time.