Canada says TikTok gathered kids’ sensitive data, vows fixes

TL;DR:

Canada’s privacy commissioners released findings on September 23, 2025.
They say TikTok failed to keep under-13s off the app.
Sensitive data from minors was collected and profiled.
TikTok agreed to improve age checks and transparency.
Regulators will monitor compliance.

Canada’s federal and provincial privacy watchdogs concluded an investigation into TikTok and found its protections for children inadequate. The findings were released on September 23, 2025. Reuters and the Associated Press reported that officials said the app did not do enough to keep under-13 users off the service or prevent the collection and use of their sensitive data.

The findings

Authorities said TikTok collected personal information from children and used it to target content and ads. Reports mention facial and voice analytics, location, and behavioral inferences as categories of concern. The commissioners want stronger age verification and clearer explanations for families.

TikTok’s response

Reuters reports TikTok agreed to enhance age-gating and improve transparency on data use. Officials called the matter “conditionally resolved,” pending follow-through. Monitoring will continue.

What parents can do today

Turn on Family Pairing to manage screen time, DMs, and content filters.
Set profiles to private and limit who can comment.
Review data permissions on the device and the app.
Talk with kids about what not to share on camera.
Recheck settings after major app updates.

Why it matters

Short video apps are popular with kids who should not use them. Policy fixes matter, but parental controls and habits close the gap between rules and daily use.

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