By skyforbes 
A major privacy investigation into TikTok was recently concluded by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, working alongside provincial counterparts in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. The results are not just about one company. They represent a larger shift in how we approach data protection, especially when it comes to children and teens in the digital age.
As with all privacy stories, this is far from just being a tech story. It impacts parents and families, but also national security and the future of trust in digital platforms.
The Key Findings: Protecting Children from Exploitative Data Practices
TikTok, one of the most widely used platforms by Canadian youth, was found to be collecting vast amounts of personal data. That includes information used to profile children and target them with personalized content and advertising. The investigation revealed that while the platform uses biometric and behavioral signals to estimate a user’s age, these tools are not being used to protect youth. They are being used to enhance business outcomes.
The commissioners concluded that TikTok’s efforts to prevent underage users from accessing the platform, and to ensure meaningful consent for data collection, were inadequate. Perhaps most concerning, young users often have no clear understanding of how their data is being used or how it might affect them.
This kind of digital environment can contribute to attention manipulation, commercial pressure, and even emotional distress. In short, it is not enough to say users can read a privacy policy. The law requires platforms to make privacy understandable and meaningful, particularly for minors.
A Wake-Up Call for All Platforms
This investigation was not about singling out one app. It is a reminder that all social media platforms must be held to the same high standard.
The findings are highly relevant for other major companies such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, Google, which owns YouTube, and X, formerly known as Twitter. These companies also collect enormous amounts of user data. They also personalize feeds, influence behaviors, and generate revenue through targeted ads. Yet they have not faced the same level of scrutiny in Canada in recent months.
Why does this matter? Because fairness and consistency are essential for building a trustworthy digital ecosystem. If Canadian regulators can hold one company accountable, they should be empowered and expected to do the same with all others. This is a precedent that should apply to every platform that profits from Canadian users.
An Opportunity for TikTok to Lead
This investigation could be a turning point for TikTok, not just a public relations crisis. The company has agreed to improve its age verification methods and clarify how it uses data. But it can go further.
This is an opportunity for TikTok to innovate in the right direction. By designing its services around strong privacy protections, the platform could become a model for ethical digital design. That would mean:
- Setting clear boundaries on what data can be collected and for what purposes
- Offering young users simplified, age-appropriate explanations of how their information is used
- Reducing behavioral profiling and algorithmic manipulation by default
- Opening up to independent audits and privacy impact assessments
This is not only possible. It is necessary. Respecting privacy can be a competitive advantage in the years ahead, especially as users become more aware of how their information is used and misused online.
Looking Deeper: Is There More Than Privacy at Play?
While the privacy violations uncovered in this investigation are real and important, it is also fair to consider the broader context. TikTok has been at the center of geopolitical tension between the United States and China. As a result, some of the scrutiny it faces may not be entirely driven by data protection concerns.
There are growing signs that other motivations may be influencing the way this platform is treated in North America. These may include:
- Efforts to restrict or suppress content that challenges dominant narratives or exposes social inequality
- Attempts to limit the platform’s reach in order to promote local alternatives or reduce foreign influence
- Political pressure to divest the company or force ownership changes that give domestic actors greater control
- Negative media framing that amplifies fears without evidence of unique harm compared to other platforms
These actions, while often justified under the banner of national security, can also blur the line between regulation and censorship. If enforcement becomes selective, or if it is used to advance political or commercial agendas, it undermines the credibility of privacy law and harms public trust.
Canadians should demand transparency not only from companies, but also from policymakers. Who benefits from the removal or weakening of a global platform like TikTok? Are similar standards being applied across the board? Are we protecting citizens, or just reinforcing power structures?
A Path Forward: Privacy by Design, Trust by Default
The problems raised by this investigation are not limited to TikTok. They reflect a global digital economy built on overcollection, algorithmic manipulation, and unclear consent.
The solutions are within reach. We can begin by building platforms that put privacy at their core, especially when children are involved. That means:
- Stronger safeguards against behavioral addiction and data profiling
- Clear age verification that protects youth without compromising identity
- Security controls that limit third-party access and cross-border data flows
- Data management policies that include regular deletion, minimization, and user control
- Most importantly, transparency that is understandable, verifiable, and real
Digital services should not treat privacy as an obstacle. They should treat it as a foundation. Trust is not a feature. It is the product of ethical design, honest communication, and meaningful accountability.
What Canadians Should Do Now
As citizens and users, Canadians have a right to ask hard questions. Here are a few worth considering:
- Are all platforms being held to the same legal and ethical standards?
- What role should government play in protecting children online?
- How can we make sure that enforcement is based on evidence, not politics?
- What tools do parents, educators, and youth need to make informed choices?
- How can we support innovation that respects privacy rather than exploits it?
The TikTok case is a wake-up call. But it is also an invitation to do better, across the board. If we act with clarity, fairness, and a commitment to human rights, Canada can lead the way in building a digital future that works for everyone.