The European Union has received privacy complaints against TikTok and five other Chinese firms. The complaints allege that these firms have engaged in activities that contravene EU privacy regulations. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates strict guidelines on how user data should be collected, processed, and stored by companies operating within its jurisdiction.
The case highlights the ongoing tension and the need for compliance in international tech operations. This development could potentially lead to significant fines and mandatory changes in data handling practices for the firms involved. The EU continues to prioritize user data protection and privacy.
An Austrian advocacy group, Noyb, has filed the privacy complaint against the six Chinese companies.
Privacy complaints against Chinese firms
They are accused of illegally transferring European user data to China.
The firms named in the complaint include TikTok, Shein, Xiaomi, AliExpress (operated by Alibaba), Temu (operated by PDD Holdings), and WeChat (operated by Tencent). According to Noyb, these companies admitted to sending European users’ personal data to China. Temu and WeChat claimed to have sent data to undisclosed “third countries.” However, Noyb suspects that China may have been the final recipient of the data.
This complaint brings to light serious concerns about data privacy and the protection of personal information of European users. It adds to the ongoing global discourse on data security and cross-border data transfers. The accusation marks a significant step in holding international companies accountable for their data practices.
This is particularly important when it involves transferring data to countries with different privacy standards.
