By skyforbes 
The EU’s largest-ever penalty against TikTok reveals something bigger than a data privacy misstep — it’s a sign of what’s coming for global tech.
The Calm Before the Fine
It was just another quiet Monday in Dublin when the hammer came down.
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), the European Union’s key enforcer of data privacy laws, announced a staggering €530 million ($600 million) fine against TikTok, citing unlawful transfers of European user data to China.
If you’re feeling déjà vu, you’re not alone. This isn’t the first time TikTok has clashed with EU regulators — but it’s by far the biggest blow.
What Did TikTok Do Wrong?
The EU’s complaint is serious: TikTok failed to properly protect European users’ personal data when accessed by employees in China. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — one of the strictest privacy laws in the world — this is a major violation.
What makes it worse? TikTok had previously claimed it didn’t store EU user data in China. But in…