TikTok drops appeal, will pay £12.7 million UK fine for failing to protect children's data

In the United Kingdom, TikTok has agreed to pay a £12.7 million fine imposed by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) after withdrawing its appeal. The fine, originally issued in 2023, was for failing to adequately prevent underage children from using the platform and ensuring their data was handled correctly. The ICO estimated that up to 1.75 million UK children under 13 used TikTok in 2020. TikTok also withdrew a separate appeal that had stalled an investigation into how it processes personal data of 13-17-year-olds in its recommender systems. The ICO welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of protecting children's data.