TikTok’s attempts to prevent children from using its platform and to safeguard their personal information have fallen short, according to a Canadian privacy investigation.
Hundreds of thousands of Canadian children reportedly use TikTok each year, even though the platform states it is not intended for users under 13. Investigators also found that TikTok collected sensitive personal data from “a large number” of children in Canada and used it for marketing and content targeting.
The investigation, led by Canada’s Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne and provincial privacy protection officials, concluded that TikTok gathers “vast” amounts of user data, including information from minors. Dufresne warned that using this data to target ads and content “can have harmful impacts, particularly on youth.”
In response, TikTok has pledged to improve measures aimed at restricting underage access and to make its data usage policies clearer for Canadian users. The company stated it would implement steps to “strengthen our platform for Canadians” but disputed some of the findings.
The probe adds to global scrutiny of TikTok over data privacy and national security concerns. Governments worldwide have introduced restrictions or launched investigations into the Chinese-owned app. In the United States, President Donald Trump has been in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping over a potential deal that could transfer TikTok’s U.S. operations to American companies. Similarly, in 2023, the European Commission ordered its staff to remove the app from work devices to “protect data and increase cybersecurity.”
