Canadian privacy officials have concluded that TikTok’s current protections for children are inadequate, raising serious concerns about how the platform handles minors’ personal data. The investigation revealed that despite TikTok’s policy requiring users to be at least 13 years old, hundreds of thousands of Canadian children continue to access the app every year.
The joint investigation was led by Canada’s Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne in collaboration with privacy regulators from Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. Findings showed that TikTok not only collected vast amounts of personal data from young users but also used this information to shape the content and advertisements displayed to them.
Commissioner Dufresne emphasized the risks during the announcement. He explained that TikTok’s collection of sensitive data, including from children, feeds into targeted algorithms. These practices, he warned, can negatively impact young users by reinforcing addictive behavior and exposing them to harmful content.
In response to the findings, TikTok pledged to strengthen its safeguards. The company has promised to enhance its age-assurance systems, preventing underage users from gaining access. Additionally, TikTok committed to improving communication regarding how it collects and uses personal information, particularly for children and teenagers.
As part of these commitments, TikTok has agreed to limit advertisers’ ability to target users under 18. Ads can now only be filtered by general categories such as language and approximate location. Furthermore, the platform will expand the amount of privacy-related information available to Canadian users, ensuring that younger audiences and their parents can make more informed decisions about online safety.
While TikTok expressed satisfaction that privacy officials accepted many of its proposals, the company also voiced disagreement with certain aspects of the report. However, it declined to specify which findings it contested. The platform reiterated its commitment to transparency and maintaining strong privacy practices for all users in Canada.
This development comes as TikTok faces heightened scrutiny across the globe. Regulators in multiple countries have raised concerns about potential misuse of user data due to TikTok’s ownership by Chinese firm ByteDance Ltd. Governments fear that sensitive data could be exploited for political or strategic purposes.
Globally, the app has already encountered restrictions. The European Union banned TikTok from staff devices, while the United States Senate passed legislation preventing federal employees from using the app on government-issued phones. These measures reflect mounting global unease about TikTok’s data security and its ties to China.
Canada has also taken broader action in recent years. In 2023, the federal government launched a national security investigation into TikTok’s planned investment and expansion in the country. That inquiry led to a suspension of TikTok’s Canadian operations, a decision the company continues to challenge.
The latest findings add to the growing pressure on TikTok to demonstrate accountability. For Canadian parents, educators, and policymakers, the focus now turns to whether the promised safeguards will be effectively implemented and whether they will truly protect younger users from risks tied to digital platforms.
