The European Consumer Organisation, better known as BEUC, has filed a complaint against TikTok. TikTok fails to protect children from hidden advertisements and inappropriate content, according to BEUC. The allegations also include that the platform isn’t honest about the reasons why it collects some data on users.

Hidden advertisement

BEUC is calling several terms in TikTok’s ‘Terms of Service’ unfair. ‘They favour Tiktok to be detriment of its users’. Furthermore, BUEC says that TikTok’s copyright terms give them an irrevocable right to use, distribute and reproduce the videos published by users without remuneration. But the worst thing is that kids are not being protected. Users are triggered to participate in branded hashtag challenges which encourages them to create content on specific products. This means that kids must buy the product in order to participate. Popular influencers often start with these hashtags, but the commercial intent behind them is masked for users. Kids often don’t realize that this is just a way to make them buy certain products. They just want to fit in and do the challenges. BEUC wants TikTok to stop keeping its users in the dark about the financial consequences of buying virtual gifts. Especially kids who are not fully able to protect themselves.

Personal data

BEUC claims that Tiktok is misleading users in how it processes personal data. With this, it is infringing EU law. A huge part of TikTok’s users are kids and leaving them unprotected is dangerous. TikTok is not transparent with what they do with the personal data they collect. The information they do give is often too difficult for kids, and teenagers to understand. BEUC wants the company to take action and to properly inform its users.

TikTok has become super popular these last few years but has gotten a lot of comments. In addition to BEUC’s complaint, consumer organisations in 15 countries have alerted their authorities and urged them to act. “We’re always open to hearing how we can improve, and we have contacted BEUC as we would welcome a meeting to listen to their concerns,” a TikTok spokesman said. The company said it had developed an in-app summary of its privacy policy to make it easier for teens to understand its stand on privacy. Social media is always a tricky thing, so platforms like TikTok should take responsibility to protect their users as best as it can.

source:

Gizmodo

BEUC.eu