Australia’s Privacy Commissioner Inquires Into TikTok Privacy Breach Concerns

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has welcomed the inquiry.

The TikTok app is displayed on an Apple iPhone. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The Australian privacy commissioner will investigate social media app TikTok for its handling of personal information and alleged data scraping.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has welcomed the inquiry, after the Opposition requested an investigation following reported privacy breaches.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner will look into whether TikTok contravened privacy laws when it allegedly used a pixel tool to gather data on users, such as email addresses and mobile phone numbers without consent.

Commissioner Angelene Falk confirmed the inquiry following findings in by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“We are making inquiries relating to TikTok’s handling of personal information following the findings made by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office in its investigation into the company,” she told the publication.

“The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner is also making inquiries following this recent information which alleges data scraping in regard to TikTok’s practices in order to determine whether to investigate.”

Mr. Paterson raised concerns that TikTok was “beholden to the Chinese Communist Party” and is legally required to share the information with the regime’s intelligence agencies.

“TikTok’s practices of harvesting the private contact information, browsing history and shopping habits of Australian internet users apparently without consent is deeply concerning and highly likely to be unlawful. Especially troubling is that the data of non-TikTok users is allegedly being collected as part of this scheme,” Mr. Paterson said.

“This conduct would be unacceptable from any company but is particularly alarming given TikTok is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party and is required under China’s intelligence laws to share information with Chinese government intelligence agencies.”

Further, Mr. Paterson said the Albanese government must legislate to protect Australians from TikTok in 2024.

He also suggested the government should take proactive steps to prevent “other problematic companies” from illegally harvesting” Australians’ data in the future.

TikTok Banned From Government Devices

In early April, the Albanese government banned TikTok from internal devices following advice from intelligence and security agencies.

Australia was the last of the Five Eyes allies to implement the ban on government devices, bringing the country in line with the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and 11 other nations.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said at the time that exemptions would only be granted on a case-by-case basis with suitable security mitigations in place.

The TikTok logo is displayed on signage outside TikTok social media app company offices in Culver City, Calif., on March 16, 2023. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

“After receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies, today I authorised the Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department to issue a mandatory direction under the Protective Security Policy Framework to prohibit the TikTok app on devices issued by Commonwealth departments and agencies,” he said at the time.

The Epoch Times has contacted TikTok for comment.