Italy: Announced Data Protection Authority investigation into TikTok over alleged illegal transfer of personal data

On 10 June 2023, the Italian Data Protection Authority (DPA) announced the opening of an investigation into TikTok over the alleged illegal transfer of personal data and requested information on the potential granting of access to its user data. The DPA stated that it opened the investigation following press reports citing statements of a former executive of the company Byte Dance, claiming personal data was transferred illegally to China and accessed by the Chinese Communist Party. As the transfer of personal data has been denied by TikTok, the DPA requested a statement on the transfer of users' personal data and Chinese Communist Party access to it. TikTok must submit within 15 days the requested information and provide details regarding the transfer of Italians' and Europeans' personal data.