TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited has been fined £1.875m ($2.4m) for failing to properly respond to a formal request for information about its parental controls safety feature.

The Office of Communications (Ofcom) earlier requested TikTok to provide information about its parental controls feature, which it needed to assess the feature’s effectiveness in protecting teenage users, and to use the information for its Child Safety Report. TikTok responded to the request in September 2023, but later pointed out that the provided data wasn’t accurate.

“TikTok should have taken steps to inform us as soon as possible where inaccurate information was provided. This was a serious matter as delaying notification of the potential inaccuracy by 22 days caused material disruption to our ability to publish important information in relation to the uptake of TikTok’s parental control system within the Child Safety Report,” Ofcom said.

Seven months to provide information

Ofcom then started an investigation into TikTok in December. The company was found to be failing to make sufficient checks – leading to inaccurate data submission – and to be slow in addressing and rectifying the errors.

TikTok did provide the correct data to Ofcom, albeit seven months after the original deadline.

But by delaying informing Ofcom about the inaccurate information, the authority said that TikTok failed to fully cooperate, and that the delay impeded its work with the Child Safety Report.

By accepting the findings and settling the case, Ofcom reduced TikTok’s fine 25% from the original figure of £2.5m ($3.2m).

Communications Act 2003

TikTok was found to be contravening the Communications Act 2003 by failing to comply with:

• section 368Z10(6): provide information in such manner and form, and within reasonable time;
• section 368Y(3)(b): comply with a requirement for information under section 368Z10; and
• section 368Y(3)(c): fully cooperate with Ofcom when (1) producing a report under section 368Z11, and (2) for monitoring purposes as a provider of a video sharing platform service, including how measures were implemented.

£12.7m ICO fine

Last year, TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited faced another fine of £12.7m ($15.9m), together with TikTok Inc, which was issued by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for breaches of the data protection law, and failing to use personal data lawfully.

According to the ICO, TikTok failed over ‘knowing’ that minors were using the services, and for not performing proper identity checks and for not removing underage children from the services.

“TikTok should have known better. TikTok should have done better. Our £12.7m fine reflects the serious impact their failures may have had,” said UK Information Commissioner John Edwards.