The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has announced that a joint investigation into the popular short video app TikTok is being launched. The investigation will involve the federal privacy regulator, as well as provincial counterparts in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec. The inquiry will focus on how the platform collects, uses and discloses personal information, as well as whether valid and meaningful consent is being obtained for such activities. It will also look at whether TikTok is meeting its transparency obligations. The probe will have a particular focus on how the app's privacy policies affect younger users.
In response, TikTok spokesperson Danielle Morgan has said that the platform is committed to operating with transparency and earning the trust of Canadians who use the app. The news comes as the European Union's two largest policy-making institutions have also banned TikTok from staff phones citing cybersecurity concerns. TikTok has expressed disappointment at the decision and said it was surprised that the Commission had not contacted them before instituting the ban.