Excerpt from Punch Article, Published on Mar 26, 2025.
TikTok has pledged full cooperation with Nigerian authorities as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission investigates the platform over alleged data breaches. The probe follows public complaints and independent findings suggesting TikTok may have violated Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023. TikTok, known for its massive user base, has faced similar scrutiny worldwide over its data handling practices. In response to an inquiry from The PUNCH, a TikTok spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to data security. “Protecting the privacy and security of our community’s data is among our top priorities. We look forward to cooperating with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission,” the spokesperson stated. The commission aims to determine whether TikTok collected, stored, or shared users’ data without proper consent. While the commission prioritizes remediation over immediate punitive measures, regulatory actions may follow based on its findings.
Efforts to obtain a response from Truecaller, which is also under investigation, have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, TikTok continues to face global scrutiny regarding its data policies. Although explicit accusations of data breaches are rare, concerns persist about TikTok’s ties to China. Some critics worry that TikTok user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. A former ByteDance employee previously alleged that the Chinese Communist Party had accessed TikTok user data for political purposes.
In 2020, India banned TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps, citing national security and privacy risks. More recently, European regulators have taken action against TikTok. The Austrian privacy group, noyb, has filed complaints in Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands, accusing TikTok of violating data protection regulations by transferring user data to China. As Nigeria’s investigation unfolds, TikTok remains under pressure to address privacy concerns and assure users that their data is secure. The outcome of this probe may have significant implications for TikTok’s operations in Nigeria and beyond.
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