Privacy watchdogs say TikTok’s efforts to protect kids were ‘inadequate’

Canada’s privacy watchdog is set to announce the results of their probe into whether TikTok complies with Canadian privacy laws today.

TikTok’s efforts to keep children off the platform and prevent the collection and use of their sensitive personal information were “inadequate” but the company is taking steps to address concerns, federal and provincial privacy authorities said Tuesday.

The federal, Quebec, Alberta and B.C. privacy commissioners released the results of their joint investigation into TikTok, which they launched in 2023.

They said in a media release that while the platform isn’t meant for kids under 13, they found hundreds of thousands of Canadian children use TikTok each year and the company collects and uses their personal information.

Federal privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne told reporters on Parliament Hill on Tuesday that TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps in the country and “the one that is most used by Canadian children and teens.”

He noted the company “uses the information that it collects, including biometric information, to estimate users’ age for its own business purposes.”

The investigation looked into whether TikTok complies with Canadian privacy legislation and whether “valid and meaningful” consent is being obtained, with a focus on how TikTok’s privacy practices apply to children and youths.

The privacy authorities said TikTok has agreed to strengthen its communications on privacy measures and enhance the use of age-assurance methods to ensure underage users don’t access the platform. They noted the company also made some improvements to its practices during the investigation.

Dufresne said Tuesday that while the privacy authorities are satisfied with TikTok’s efforts to date, he and his colleagues will monitor the situation.

“There’s some steps that they still have to take … For the moment, we find it’s conditionally resolved,” he said.

Privacy and safety concerns have swirled around TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance because of Chinese national security laws that compel domestic organizations to assist with intelligence gathering.

Last year, the federal government ordered the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business following a national security review of ByteDance.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2025.