TikTok Fined 5 Million Euros for Insufficient Cookie Opt-Out Information

Social media platform TikTok has been issued a €5 million fine by the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) for failing to provide sufficient information about cookie usage on its website. Following an investigation carried out between May 2020 and June 2022, it was found that TikTok was discouraging users from opting out of cookie usage.

CNIL’s investigation found that TikTok was offering a one-click solution to opt in to cookie usage but not a clear enough option to opt out. Furthermore, the purpose of the cookies on the site was not made precise enough on the first-level information banner, nor was it sufficient when users clicked on a link within that banner. 

In response to the investigation, TikTok has issued a statement saying that it had taken steps to ensure that its users were aware of the cookies being used on the site and had been transparent about the extent to which these cookies were used. It also stated that it had implemented changes to its cookie policy in order to meet the CNIL's standards.

The CNIL also warned that similar investigations are being carried out against other social media platforms and that if they are found to be in breach of data protection regulations, they too could be subject to fines.

In light of this news, it is important for all social media platforms to ensure that they are providing sufficient information to their users about the cookies they use and that they are following data protection regulations.

Do you think that social media platforms do enough to inform their users about the cookies they use? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.