TikTok has come under renewed scrutiny in Canada after a joint investigation by federal and provincial privacy watchdogs revealed the company had collected sensitive personal data
from hundreds of thousands of Canadian children. Officials said the findings highlight serious gaps in the platform’s safeguards for underage users, raising concerns about privacy, online safety, and targeted advertising.
The investigation, led by Canada’s Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne along with regulators from Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta, concluded that TikTok’s measures to keep children under 13 off its app were “inadequate.” Despite the company’s stated policies, officials said large numbers of underage users were still able to access the platform each year.
Investigators also determined that TikTok had harvested significant amounts of personal information from minors and used it for content targeting and marketing purposes. “TikTok collects vast amounts of personal information about its users, including children. 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.
In response, TikTok has agreed to strengthen its age-assurance methods, ensuring stricter checks to block underage access. The company also committed to clearer communication with users—particularly minors—about how their data is collected and used. Additional changes introduced during the investigation include banning advertisers from directly targeting users under 18, except for broad categories like language or location, and expanding privacy information available to Canadian users.
A TikTok spokesperson welcomed the outcome, saying the company was “pleased the commissioners agreed to a number of its proposals to further strengthen” protections for Canadian users. However, the spokesperson added that TikTok disagreed with certain aspects of the findings, though they did not specify which conclusions were contested.
Canada’s move adds to a growing wave of international pressure on TikTok over data privacy and security concerns. Governments in Europe and the United States have restricted or banned the app on government-issued devices, citing fears that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., could be compelled to share user data with Beijing. In the U.S., lawmakers have also advanced legislation that could force TikTok’s American assets to be transferred to domestic owners.
Ottawa’s concerns with the company are not new. In 2023, the Canadian government ordered TikTok to wind down its business expansion plans in the country, citing national security risks. That order is still being contested by the company. The new findings are likely to intensify debate over whether TikTok can continue operating in Canada under its current ownership and data practices.
As global regulators step up scrutiny, TikTok faces mounting challenges to convince governments and users that it can provide a safe, transparent, and trustworthy platform. For Canadian officials, the latest commitments are only a first step. “Protecting children’s privacy online is a priority,” Dufresne said, stressing that TikTok will be closely monitored to ensure its promises translate into real change.
