TikTok Drops Appeal, Pays £12.7m Fine for Under-13 Users 2026

TikTok has dropped its appeal against a £12.7m fine imposed by the UK's data watchdog for failing to keep children under 13 off its platform. The video app will now pay the penalty, which was issued in 2023 by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for inadequate age checks and failure to remove underage users.

Why TikTok Was Fined

The ICO found that TikTok did very little, if anything to prevent underage use. Despite a minimum age of 13, up to 1.75 million UK children under 13 used the service in 2020 alone. TikTok also failed to properly inform users about data collection and did not obtain parental consent.

Emily Keaney, the ICO's deputy commissioner, said: "Our successful action against TikTok shows how important it is for companies to have the right protections in place, including to prevent access by children who are not old enough to be using their services."

TikTok's Response

Chinese-owned TikTok said it still disagrees with the ruling but decided to pay because the fine relates to the period between 2018 and 2020. Since then, the company claims it has implemented many youth safety measures and policies. TikTok, which has over 30 million UK users, has also withdrawn an appeal against an ICO request for information about its algorithm.

Key Takeaways

• TikTok will pay a £12.7m fine for failing to enforce its age limit.
• The ICO found up to 1.75 million under-13s used TikTok in 2020.
• TikTok disagrees with the ruling but chose not to appeal further.
• The company says it has since improved youth safety measures.
• This case highlights the importance of data privacy for children.

Comparing the Fine to Other Tech Penalties

What This Means for Parents and Users

This case underscores the importance of age verification and parental consent in social media. Parents should be aware of what platforms their children use and ensure they understand privacy settings. For TikTok, the fine serves as a reminder that regulatory compliance is non-negotiable, especially when it comes to protecting minors.

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