This is the biggest fine imposed on TikTok in Europe, and yet it looks very ridiculous. This Thursday, Cnil announced that it is condemning the network social Chinese fined 5 millions euros for various shortcomings related to the collection of consent from Internet users for the storage of advertising cookies. five millions, which is half the maximum fine that the company risked. Cnil explained that TikTok “offered a button to accept cookies immediately” but it “didn’t insert place an equivalent solution (button or other) allowing an Internet user to opt out of their deposit just as easily” since “it took several clicks to opt out of all cookies, versus just one to accept them.” The authorities considered that this difference arose from a clear desire to “dissuade users from opting out of cookies and encourage them to prefer the simplicity of the “Accept All” button.” Tiktok, which did not want the case to go public, says “user privacy remains a top priority” and recalls that the conviction refers to “previous practice” already “changed last year.”
Very small victory Cnil
Tiktok is the latest digital giant to be fined. Google, Meta (Facebook), Microsoft and Amazon have also been sanctioned after a massive control campaign. In total, the fine is 400 rubles. millions Euro. A grain of sand compared to the financial results of all these multinationals. In 2021, TikTok’s turnover in Europe was 990 people. millions euro or six times more than a year earlier (172 millions Euro). The company forecasts a global turnover of $10 billion in 2022, up from $4 billion in 2021 from advertising revenue alone. Amazon’s 2021 global revenue reached $469.8 billion, Apple’s $90.1 billion and Google’s $257.6 billion. enough to laugh at the penalties of a few millions introduced by CNIL.
TikTok in turmoil
Although symbolic, this condemnation does not help the TikTok business. In the US network social ByteDance is prohibited from use by government officials. MPs also discuss the fate of the network social on American soil. They accuse TikTok of being a spy tool for Beijing and believe it is danger for the mental health of young users. In Europe, TikTok is also closely watched. So much so that grand The boss wished to meet with the European commissioners to appease the spirits. In Europe, new rules introduced by the Digital Market Law and the Digital Services Law set an exemplary approach to digital giants. However, the head of TikTok recently admitted that employees spied on the accounts of journalists (now fired). Vera Yurova, who is in charge of security and transparency, asked for “extra efforts (…) to restore the confidence of European regulators.” From points the most sensitive protection personal data, the safety of minors, the transparency of paid political content, and the dissemination of Russian disinformation on TikTok.” If TikTok fails to comply with European regulations, the sanctions are much more dissuasive: a fine can reach 6% of global turnover or even a ban on service in Europe in case of a repeated violation.
