Advocates Ask TikTok to Cancel Targeted Ads in EU, UK

TikTok should end plans to “force personalized ads” on users, Access Now said in a statement Tuesday. Access Now wrote a July 5 letter to TikTok asking the company to cancel plans to target users over 18 with personalized ads in the European Economic Area, U.K. and Switzerland. Access Now cited a report that TikTok is pausing those plans in favor of working with regulators. Access Now Global Data Protection Lead Estelle Masse said the company “must end” the practice for good: “When we rang the alarm bells, data protection authorities from Italy, Ireland, and Spain listened. With their swift action to protect people’s rights, they shut down a problematic practice and potential harmful precedent before TikTok could implement it.” TikTok didn't comment.