The news sounds like an admission. This Friday, May 2, Tiktok was sentenced by the Ireland Data Protection Authority (DPC) to a fine of 530 million euros.
The reason? According to the institution, Tiktok has not implemented sufficient measures to ensure the personal data of European users, accessible by employees in Beijing. As a result, Tiktok could not protect this information “from possible access by Chinese authorities.”
In detail, the DPC states that Tiktok “cannot propose guarantees against the potential of the Chinese authorities” to these data through their laws of anti -terrorism and counterintelligence. The “same” platform would have recognized “significantly deviates from European standards.” The regulator gave him 6 months to suspend illegal transfers.
Tiktok denies sharing data with China
The company had already confirmed, in November 2022, that its Chinese employees could access the personal data of European users and, in particular, French. For example, to improve the performance of Recommendation algorithms and to detect automated accounts.
But it is the first time that Tiktok admits to having organized European data in China. During the survey, the company acknowledged that in February 2025, some “data had been stored on servers in China.” However, it would be a “technical problem” that since then has been “resolved”, says the platform that reaffirms that the data of Europeans are stored in Norway or Ireland Thanks to the Clover Project.
Despite this admission of half a word, the entertainment giant does not deviate from its position. Over the years, he has repeatedly denied having transmitted information to the Chinese authorities. What the platform has just reaffirmed in a press release. Tiktok “has never received a request from the data of European users from Chinese authorities” and “never provided data from European users.” Tiktok, therefore disputed the fine, announced that he wanted to appeal.
This decision is produced as concerns related to user data management by Bytedance, Tiktok’s parent company has never been so high. In fact, for several years, the various Western governments have been concerned about their bond with Beijing.
A Trojan horse from the communist party
Like all platforms, Tiktok collects certain personal data from its users. Therefore, it is not the collection of data that worries the authorities, but rather what happens once transmitted to the servers. A Chinese National Intelligence Law forces the country’s companies to share their data at the request of the authorities.
As a result, many political leaders believe that the platform allows the Chinese government to spy on propaganda users or purposes.
In the United States, the application of short videos is threatened with a ban. A law was approved in Congress in 2024 forcing the byte. Reduce the social network to another owner By January 19, pointing out the risk of exploitation of personal data of US users by Chinese authorities.
Several employees have also claimed to collect information about users, including their opinion on confidential issues such as abortion or religion. Some of these data would have been stored in China and consulted by employees of Bytedance, in Beijing.
Surveys and measures against Tiktok
Despite these espionage suspicions, President Donald Trump has repelled the deadline twice to give Tiktok more time to find a buyer. The deadline is already scheduled for June 19.
These concerns are shared in Europe. The European Union has launched several surveys on the use of Tiktok Internet users data. In February 2024, the European gendarme thus opened a “formal investigation” for alleged infractions of Minor protection.
Two months later, the arrival of Tiktok Lite, an application considered too addictive, accentuated the distrust of the 27. Faced with the EU pressure, Tiktok had ended up removing his EU reward program.
In France, several voices also rise against the platform. Already in February 2023, the Senate launched a commission of investigation responsible for studying the use and influence strategy of the Chinese social network. The group had recommended prohibiting the platform, stressing Your links to Beijing And the way in which the personal data of its users are administered. But the Investigation Commission does not have the power of the decision manufacturer.
In January 2024, Sylvain Maillard, at the time President of the Renaissance Group in the National Assembly, threatened to defend Tiktok prohibition In France. “I see what Tiktok does. I think it is an organized site to get totally stupid. (…) You have to help parents, if it is harmful, we must make sure to ban it.” Franceinfo.
Previous with Huawei or Deepseek
More recently, the National Assembly has approved the creation of a commission Research on the psychological effects of Tiktok on children and adolescents. The issue of data protection could be mentioned there.
Therefore, European countries have taken measures to limit access to Tiktok. In February 2023, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council also have prohibited for your employees Use Tiktok On his mobile, for cybersecurity purposes. France has also prohibited its officials from using Tiktok, or other foreign networks, to limit espionage risks.
And Tiktok is not the only Chinese company to worry 27. Last March, the European Parliament announced a temporary blockade of access to their buildings to all lobbyists and representatives of the Huawei group. The Chinese giant is suspicious of corruption within the institution to defend their interests.
In 2023, Brussels described that the telecommunications giant was presenting the greatest risk for EU countries among all 5G suppliers. The EU advised member countries to exclude their team from their mobile networks.
It is also suspected that the Chinese AI AI delivery data from its users to a Chinese company without its consent. The Cnil is currently studying chatbot to “better understand the risks in terms of data protection.”
Source: BFM TV
