A Canadian investigation has concluded that TikTok’s safeguards to prevent children from using its platform and to protect their personal data have been inadequate, raising fresh concerns about the app’s practices.
The inquiry, led by Canada’s privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne alongside provincial privacy officials, found that hundreds of thousands of children in the country use TikTok each year, despite the company’s policy that the platform is not intended for those under 13. Investigators also determined that TikTok collected sensitive personal data from a “large number” of Canadian minors and used it to fuel content recommendations and targeted advertising.
“This data is being used to target the content and ads that users see, which can have harmful impacts, particularly on youth,” Dufresne said at a press conference announcing the findings. He stressed that while TikTok is popular among young people, its practices around data collection and use fall short of what is required to protect children.
TikTok has agreed to introduce new measures to limit underage use and make its data practices more transparent. A company spokesperson said the platform welcomed the investigation and noted that Canadian officials had “agreed to a number of our proposals to further strengthen our platform.”
“While we disagree with some of the findings, we remain committed to maintaining strong transparency and privacy practices,” the spokesperson added. The company did not specify which conclusions it disputed.
The findings add to a growing wave of international scrutiny facing TikTok. Governments worldwide have raised concerns about the app’s influence on children, its data handling practices, and broader national security risks tied to its Chinese ownership. Both TikTok and Beijing have repeatedly denied allegations that user information could be accessed by the Chinese government.
In the United States, President Donald Trump has been engaged in negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping over a deal that could see TikTok’s U.S. operations acquired by American firms. Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Commission last year ordered staff to delete TikTok from both corporate and personal devices used for official work, citing the need to “protect data and increase cybersecurity.”
In Canada, the latest probe underscores mounting pressure on TikTok to demonstrate it can operate responsibly within strict privacy frameworks. Dufresne said the outcome was a reminder that protecting children online is an urgent priority. “Young people deserve a digital environment where their personal information is safeguarded and their well-being is protected,” he said.
The app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has more than one billion users globally. With children making up a significant portion of that audience despite age restrictions, regulators across North America and Europe appear determined to push for stricter oversight.
