**Canadian Privacy Authorities Find TikTok’s Protection for Children Inadequate, But Steps Are Being Taken**
*OTTAWA, Ontario (AP)* — TikTok’s efforts to keep children off its platform and prevent the collection and use of their sensitive personal information have been found “inadequate,” according to Canadian privacy authorities. However, the company is taking steps to address these concerns, officials said Tuesday.
Federal Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne emphasized that TikTok must do more to keep underage children off the platform and improve transparency around its data collection practices, especially for youth. TikTok maintains that its platform is not intended for users under the age of 13.
“Our investigation found that measures TikTok uses to keep children off the popular video-sharing platform and to prevent the collection and use of their sensitive personal information … were inadequate,” Dufresne stated.
In response, TikTok has agreed to enhance its underage assurance methods to better exclude underage users. The company will also strengthen its privacy communications to help users understand how their data is being used.
“There are some steps they still have to take. For the moment, we find it’s conditionally resolved,” Dufresne said. “We are going to be monitoring the situation.”
Dufresne also noted that TikTok’s privacy policies currently lack detail and are difficult to locate.
The federal, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia privacy commissioners publicly released the results of their joint investigation, which was launched in 2023. The findings highlighted that in Quebec, 40% of young people aged 6 to 17 have a TikTok account. Among children aged 6 to 12, that figure stands at 17%.
“We were certainly struck by how elaborate a profiling that was being used by TikTok,” said British Columbia Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey. He pointed out concerns over the extensive data collection, including facial and voice analytics, combined with location information, used to create detailed inferences about users, such as their spending power. This information then influences the content and advertising shown to them.
Last year, following a national security review of TikTok’s Chinese parent company, the Canadian government decided not to block access to the popular app but ordered the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business.
Meanwhile, in the United States, former President Donald Trump suggested that prominent billionaires—such as media mogul Rupert Murdoch and tech founder Michael Dell—could be involved in a deal where the U.S. would take control of the social video platform.
https://wgntv.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-canadian-privacy-watchdogs-call-for-tiktok-to-enhance-protection-for-children-on-platform/