Australian regulator: TikTok did not violate privacy laws

According to news from this site on May 29, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (hereinafter referred to as OAIC) ​​issued a "Statement on the Preliminary Investigation of TikTok", stating that TikTok has no obvious violation of Australian privacy laws. , there is no need to conduct further investigation.

The OAIC is an independent agency under the jurisdiction of the Australian Attorney General. It is responsible for privacy, freedom of information and government information policy, including conducting investigations and reviewing decisions. , handle complaints and provide guidance and advice. The OAIC's responsibilities cover many areas, including but not limited to the following aspects: 1. Privacy protection: OAIC is responsible for supervising and promoting the protection of personal privacy, including regulations on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information

At the end of 2023, OAIC launched a preliminary investigation into TikTok, accusing TikTok of using the Pixel tracking tool Collect data on users' browsing history and personal information, and piece together identifying information such as emails, phone numbers and shopping habits.

The full text of the statement attached to this site is translated:

Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said:

My office has concluded its preliminary investigation into TikTok. The purpose of the preliminary investigation is to determine whether an investigation is warranted. From the information I have received, there has been no apparent breach of Australian privacy laws and therefore there is no need to launch an investigation.

Regulators like the OAIC must always direct their attention and resources where they can have the greatest impact. Unfortunately,

the issues raised by this case are not unique to TikTok, and any litigation or investigation by the OAIC will proceed on an uncertain legal basis.

Pixel is one of the tools containing cookies that allows precise monitoring of users on the Internet and social media platforms. Many of these tools are harmful, intrusive, and can undermine online privacy.

We urgently need reform of the Privacy Act. This is the best way to address the most harmful aspects of the digital ecosystem.

We are considering next steps to address the wider issues raised by tracking tools that have become commonplace on today’s websites, with a focus on those that may facilitate the transfer of sensitive information . We will also publish information on key privacy issues organizations must consider when configuring and deploying tracking tools on their websites.

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