Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition and Telecommunications, believes that the Chinese social network TikTok must make more efforts to comply with the rules of France and the European Union.
“It’s always good to remember that in Europe we have rules”. Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition and Telecommunications, took advantage of his appearance on RMC this Thursday morning to call on the social network TikTok to make more efforts to comply with European regulations.
The social network is regularly criticized for its “addictive” aspect for young people, and will set up in a few weeks, by default, a warning after 60 minutes of use for all those who have declared to be under 18 years old. A step forward that was “expected, but welcome”, he comments.
But he especially criticizes the social network for its opaque data collection system, as well as the question of their treatment, which is the subject of more and more concern at the global level. After the European Commission, it was the European Parliament that decided to prohibit its agents from installing the social network on their professional telephone.
“We demand that user data be processed in Europe. And today some TikTok data can be processed, manipulated, outside the EU, and that is unacceptable,” he says.
“The digital giants, it is at European level that we must impose our rules on them”
This is the reason why TikTok leaders have been asked to undertake that, during 2023, the data of European users will be processed in Europe. “I will receive them in a few days to obtain from them a precise timetable for compliance with this,” he explains.
“The digital giants, it is at European level that we must impose our rules on them”, notes Jean-Noël Barrot who also recalls that TikTok will also have to comply with the ban on targeted advertising on minors which will come into force “in a few months in all EU member states. “If they do not respect this, the fine may go up to 6% of their turnover”, explains -it, which can represent in the case of TikTok nearly 300 million euros in fines.
Regarding the protection of users, especially against scams, Jean-Noël Barrot ensures “discussions are underway” after the major consultation launched by Bruno Le Maire with users and players in the sector. These contributions are now “processed”, and the minister promises that “at the end of March” that concrete measures will be taken to “protect consumers”.
