The non-governmental organization Ius Omnibus justifies the judicial processes initiated in Portugal against the TikTok application with the “extremely complicated protection problems” of personal data and the health of the youngest users of the Chinese social network.
In an interview with Lusa, the general secretary of this association for the defense of consumer rights, Daniela Antão, points out that the two lawsuits filed in the Central Civil Court of Lisbon could give rise to collective compensation of up to 1,120 million euros. euros for alleged “unfair commercial practices” and alleged violations of the protection of user rights.
“The TikTok case poses very complicated problems for the protection of children, adolescents and adults in general”, he says and points out: “We cannot stop acting against a set of illegal, unfair practices and with very serious consequences that we understand that TikTok TikTok behaviors are provoking users in Portugal”.
According to the secretary general, the social network belonging to the Chinese group bytedance communicates its privacy policy in a “non-transparent and opaque” manner, which means that users are not “exactly aware of the data that is collected, the use that is made of that data, how it is transferred, to which entities and the scope” of that information.
On the other hand, Daniela Antão warns that TikTok maintains “a set of contents that are dangerous for physical and mental health, that induce suicide and self-mutilation and promote eating disorders” among the youngest.
In this sense, two actions were filed: one aimed at users under 13 years of age, for whom compensation of up to 450 million euros is defended; and another related to TikTok users over the age of 13, who claim compensation of up to 670 million euros. To guarantee the right to compensation, users must register on a platform that must be available online this Wednesday.
“In the case of minors under 13 years of age, what stands out is that minors cannot register or use the platform without the authorization of their legal representatives. It is demonstrated in our performance that TikTok does not implement the basic measures necessary to prevent this access. ; not only does it not adopt these measures, but it consciously and deliberately takes economic advantage of these users, ”he says.
In addition to the economic impact that these processes can have, the general secretary of Ius Omnibus warns of potential social repercussions. “If TikTok respects the rules that bind it (…), what will happen is that we will have a generation of children and adolescents who are no longer subject to forms that can cause serious disorders in personality development and create aggravated addiction” he observes. .
“The great social impact,” argues Daniela Antão, “is that this platform stops harming Portuguese users and tends, through the discipline of users and the market, to be a healthy entertainment platform.”
Questioned about the growing restrictions in several countries, the representative of the non-governmental organization distances the legal nature of these processes from possible geopolitical or security considerations.
“The law must be applied, whether the company is of Chinese, French, American or Icelandic origin. It is totally objective and there must be no interference from political considerations,” sums up the jurist, who still defends that “from the point of view Portuguese view and the Portuguese authorities, there are acts, actions and initiatives to adopt” in this matter.
“Forcing the company to have entry rules to the platform that are truly transparent and that allow people to know exactly what is being done with their data is essential,” he concludes.
Source: TSF
