Ireland, UK Step Up TikTok Data Transfer Probes

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has opened a second investigation into TikTok after the company admitted in April 2025 that some European users' data had been stored on servers in China, contradicting its earlier statements. TikTok claims the data has since been deleted and says it promptly notified the DPC of the technical issue. The new probe follows a €530 million fine imposed on TikTok for previous GDPR violations related to data transfers to China. The DPC is now also examining TikTok's cooperation with EU regulators and its overall data transfer practices. Meanwhile, the UK's Information Commissioner’s Office is preparing to fine TikTok for similar GDPR breaches. The situation underscores mounting EU and UK concerns about privacy and security risks associated with storing personal data in non-EU countries like China.