TikTok is being investigated over its use of children’s data (again)

The company received the biggest fine ever for a case involving children’s privacy in the US in February.

The news: The UK’s data privacy regulator is investigating how video-sharing app TikTok handles children’s personal data, and whether it’s doing enough to keep children safe on its platform. Specifically, it is looking into whether TikTok is breaking European data protection laws, information commissioner Elizabeth Denham told a parliamentary committee, the Guardian reports. There are also concerns over the fact that TikTok’s open messaging system lets any adult communicate with any child. TikTok is the fastest-growing social-media platform, with about 500 million monthly active users.

March of the regulators: Back in February the company was fined $5.7 million by the US Federal Trade Commission for illegally collecting kids’ personal information. Specifically, TikTok had failed to seek parental consent before collecting personal information from users under the age of 13.