Why has TikTok been charged with $600 million fine? Social media app reportedly violated EU Data Privacy Law

TikTok has been hit with a whopping $600 (€530) million fine for supposedly violating a European Union Data Privacy law. The Irish Data Protection Commission, in a press release dated May 2, 2025, shared its final decision after an inquiry into the activities of the social media platform.

The DPC, as the Lead Supervisory Authority for TikTok, examined whether it was lawful for the video-sharing app to transfer the data of its users in the EEA to China. It also checked whether the information provided to users in relation to the transfers met the transparency requirements provided by the GDPR.

In the end, it was determined by the Commissioners for Data Protection, Dr Des Hogan and Mr Dale Sunderland, that the app had contravened the extant laws in disseminating user information to China and transparency requirements.

Graham Doyle, DPC Deputy Commissioner, stated:

“The GDPR requires that the high level of protection provided within the European Union continues where personal data is transferred to other countries. TikTok’s personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of EEA users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU."

TikTok disagrees with the decision of the Irish Data Protection Commission and will appeal it

TikTok released a statement on May 2, 2025, in a direct response to the decision of the DPC. The company stated that the commission’s inquiry was based on the period before it implemented its Project Clover, which now safeguards the information of its users.

The social media company emphasized that it has never received a request for European user data from China, nor has it shared the same. The company also added that the TikTok platform has been greatly beneficial to the European community through job creation:

"The decision primarily focuses on a select period from years ago, before the 2023 implementation of Project Clover, our €12 billion data security initiative. The DPC itself recorded in its report what TikTok has consistently said: it has never received a request for European user data from the Chinese authorities and has never provided European user data to them."

TikTok’s statement continued:

"With 175 million users across Europe, more than 6,000 employees in the region, and a platform that helped small businesses contribute €4.8 billion to GDP and over 51,000 jobs, TikTok is deeply integrated into the European economy."

TikTok announced in its press statement that it would appeal the decision of the DPC.

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The Irish Data Protection Commission has ordered TikTok to comply with extant laws within six months of its press release or face a suspension of “transfers to China.”

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