TikTok Removes 500K+ Accounts in Italy Following DPA Order

TikTok Removes Over 500,000 Accounts in Italy Following Data Protection Intervention

The video-sharing social network, TikTok, has deactivated more than 500,000 user accounts within Italy. This action followed an earlier directive from the nation’s data protection authority.

Age Verification and Regulatory Action

The Italian data protection watchdog initiated the process by requesting a comprehensive re-evaluation of the ages of all Italian users. The goal was to prevent access for individuals under the age of 13.

From February 9th to April 21st, over 12.5 million Italian users were prompted to verify their age as being over 13, as stated by the regulatory body.

Challenges in Online Age Verification

Determining a user’s true age online presents a significant challenge. It remains unclear precisely how many of the removed accounts belonged to individuals definitively under the age of 13.

The regulator reported that TikTok removed over 500,000 users who were deemed “likely” to be under 16. Approximately 400,000 accounts were removed due to users declaring an age below 13, while another 140,000 were removed through a combination of moderation and user reporting mechanisms within the application.

Strengthening Underage User Detection

TikTok has committed to implementing further measures to enhance its ability to identify and block underage users. This includes exploring the potential development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to detect when children are utilizing the service.

In a statement, TikTok confirmed it is currently testing “additional measures to help ensure that only users aged 13 or over are able to use TikTok.”

Statement from TikTok’s Head of Child Safety

The statement, attributed to Alexandra Evans, TikTok’s head of child safety in Europe, reads as follows:

Italy’s data protection regulator issued an emergency order in January, mandating TikTok to re-verify the age of all users and restrict access for those whose age could not be confirmed. This action stemmed from reports in local news outlets concerning a 10-year-old girl from Palermo who tragically died from asphyxiation while participating in a “blackout challenge” on the platform.

Enhanced Measures and Response Times

Among the reinforced measures TikTok has agreed to implement is a commitment to swiftly remove underage users. The Italian DPA stated that the platform has guaranteed the cancellation of reported accounts verified as belonging to users under 13 within 48 hours.

TikTok has also pledged to “study and develop” solutions, potentially incorporating artificial intelligence, to “minimize the risk of children under 13 using the service”.

Awareness Campaigns and Information Sharing

The social network will also launch advertising campaigns, both within the app and through traditional media like radio and newspapers in Italy. These campaigns aim to promote the safe use of the platform and emphasize its unsuitability for users under 13, utilizing messaging tailored to appeal to younger audiences.

Furthermore, TikTok has agreed to share information with the regulator regarding the effectiveness of these experimental measures, collaborating to identify the most effective methods for preventing underage access.

Ongoing Monitoring and Previous Criticisms

The DPA will continue to monitor TikTok’s adherence to these commitments.

Prior to the regulator’s intervention, TikTok’s age verification processes were widely criticized for being easily bypassed by children. Users could simply enter a false birthdate indicating they were over 13 to gain access.

Ongoing Investigations

A broader investigation initiated by the DPA into TikTok’s handling of children’s data remains in progress.

The regulator began proceedings against the platform in December 2020, following months of investigation, expressing concerns that TikTok was not complying with EU data protection regulations regarding the processing of children’s data.

European Collaboration and Complaints

In January, the Garante also requested the European Data Protection Board to establish an EU taskforce to investigate concerns surrounding the risks associated with children’s platform usage, noting similar concerns raised by other agencies across Europe and the U.S.

In February, the European consumer rights organization, BEUC, filed a series of complaints against TikTok, including those related to its handling of children’s data.

TikTok’s Transparency Initiatives

Earlier this year, TikTok announced plans to engage external experts to assist with content moderation and to establish a ‘transparency’ center in Europe. This center will provide outside experts with access to information regarding its content, security, and privacy policies.