London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

Social media giant TikTok sued by former children's commissioner over 'shady' data collection policy

Social media giant TikTok sued by former children's commissioner over 'shady' data collection policy

Anna Longfield is calling on TikTok to protect under-13s who use the app. Damages in the case could run into billions of pounds.

The former children's commissioner for England has launched legal proceedings on behalf of 3.5 million children under 13 against TikTok.

Anne Longfield has alleged that the social media platform has illegally collected personal data from millions of children since May 2018 - when General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was introduced.

The lawsuit is seeking compensation for millions of potentially affected children, which Ms Longfield said could run into billions of pounds.

The claim argues that TikTok, which was founded by Chinese Company ByteDance, breached data protection rules wilfully, taking children's personal information without warning, transparency or the necessary consent.

It is also alleged that personal data was collected without the knowledge of parents and children.

This is the latest development in the lawsuit against the video-sharing app after the High Court ruled in December that a 12-year-old girl, who was supported by Ms Longfield, could bring the dispute with TikTok anonymously.

TikTok policies in the UK do not allow children under 13 to use the app and those downloading it are asked to input their age when they join.

Figures suggest that many under-13s use the platform.

Ms Longfield said she felt the app's data collection policies, in general, were "excessive for a video-sharing app" but was most troubled by the "collection of data on an industrial scale without either the kids or the parents realising".

TikTok's data collection policy is listed on its website, but Ms Longfield said she felt its practices were "hidden" and "shady".

"In terms of what they take there are addresses, names, date of birth information, their likes, their interests, who they follow, their habits - all of these - the profiling stuff, but also the exact geolocation, that is very much outside what would be deemed appropriate," she said.

"You shouldn't be doing that when it's kids."

Ms Longfield has accused TikTok of being "deliberately opaque" about who has access to data, but notes the company makes billions from advertising revenue generated by providing user information to advertisers.

A TikTok spokesperson said: "Privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users and our teenage users in particular.

"We believe the claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend the action."

Ms Longfield, who has instructed US litigation specialists Scott+Scott, hopes it would be a "powerful test case" which would be a "wake-up call" for other social media platforms.

She added that she hoped to force TikTok to delete the data and put new measures in place to protect children.

"I'd like to see them acknowledge the problem, stop collecting the illegal data, delete the illegal data they have and put safeguards in place, so they can demonstrate that they're acting responsibly," she said.

"I'd like to see them reassure parents - they have introduced some measures over recent months - great, I'm pleased when people take action, but while this is absolutely at the core of what the business model is, any action won't get to the heart of what needs to be done.

"So I think they need to communicate that to parents, they need to stop doing it, they need to delete it and put measures in place and then look at how they're going to rebuild trust - I think that really is what we're talking about."

TikTok is one of the world's most popular apps - especially among youngsters -- and has around 100 million users in Europe alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with many children having online learning at home, has helped cement its success.

In January, TikTok tightened privacy rules to protect under-16s, with any accounts for those under the age of 16 changed to private.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×