Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

EU leaders fire warning shots at TikTok over privacy

EU leaders fire warning shots at TikTok over privacy

Brussels expects the platform to go the ‘extra mile in respecting EU law’ and regaining trust, says Commissioner Jourová.
European Commission officials on Tuesday warned TikTok's CEO to respect EU laws and work on "regaining [the] trust of European regulators," as the Chinese-owned firm faces growing criticism over privacy.

"I count on TikTok to fully execute its commitments to go the extra mile in respecting EU law and regaining [the] trust of European regulator," said European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová in a statement after meeting with TikTok chief Shou Zi Chew in Brussels.

Jourová said there could not be "any doubt that data of users in Europe are safe and not exposed to illegal access from third-country authorities."

Chew met Tuesday with a series of European Commission politicians in a first for the head of the rising-but-controversial social media platform. His visit comes amid months of unabated political pressure and after the U.S. recently moved to ban the app for all federal government devices due to fears about potential spying by China, where TikTok's parent company ByteDance is based.

The platform is also facing two investigations by the Irish data protection regulator on potential unlawful data transfers of European citizens’ data to China as well as children’s privacy under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Ireland is TikTok's main privacy regulator.

Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, who met with Chew earlier in the day, said discussions centered on preparing for the EU's new online content rules (DSA) and new digital competition rulebook (DMA) as well as complying with the GDPR. Vestager also brought up recent press reports on TikTok's "aggressive data harvesting and surveillance in the US," a readout of the meeting said.

Meanwhile, Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders reminded TikTok of the importance of cooperating with the Irish watchdog. "The rules are clear and must be complied with fully," he said, according to a readout.

Jourová also raised concerns with Chew about how the video-sharing app was using the data of journalists to identify leaks in the company, according to a readout of the meeting. Chew "confirmed it was wrong" and said the people responsible were no longer with the company.

Other topics raised included measures to protect children on the platform, limit the spread of Russian disinformation, and make political advertising and influencer marketing more transparent.

Theo Bertram, TikTok’s vice president for government affairs in Europe, said the conversations with EU politicians focused on compliance with European regulations.

“We welcomed the opportunity to reinforce how we’re further strengthening data security in Europe, including by establishing our European data centre operations in Ireland,” he added.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×