RNN Somali TV – Technology | Date: May 2, 2025
Popular social media platform TikTok has been fined a staggering €530 million after Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) found the company illegally transferred European users’ data to China without adequate transparency or legal safeguards.
According to the Commission, TikTok failed to clearly inform users about how and where their personal data was being shared, and it was confirmed that employees based in China had access to sensitive user data belonging to individuals in the EU.
What Was TikTok Found Guilty Of?
The investigation by the Irish Data Protection Commission, which acts as a key GDPR enforcement body in the European Union, revealed the following major concerns:
• TikTok did not specify which countries user data was being transferred to.
• Employees based in China were granted access to European users’ data.
• Users were not adequately informed about these transfers.
These practices violate the EU’s strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which protects citizens’ digital privacy rights.
TikTok’s Response to the Allegations
TikTok stated that the issues mentioned by the Commission refer to earlier practices before May 2023. The company emphasized that it has since launched a new data security initiative called “Project Clover”, which aims to keep European data stored and managed within Europe itself.
TikTok further claimed:
“We have never shared European users’ data with the Chinese government.”
However, the Commission insisted that TikTok has not provided full transparency about data access and cross-border transfers.
The Impact of the Fine: A Wake-up Call for Big Tech
This hefty €530 million fine sends a strong message to tech giants operating in the European market: user data protection is not optional.
It is one of the largest penalties ever issued to a technology company under GDPR rules and could trigger similar investigations and actions by other nations.
Conclusion: Rebuilding Public Trust
TikTok now faces an uphill battle to regain the trust of European users. While there is no direct evidence that user data was handed to the Chinese government, the findings raise serious concerns about data security and international transparency.
RNN Somali TV will continue to monitor developments in this case and broader regulatory efforts around technology and digital privacy.