United Kingdom: Information Commissioner's Office statement on First-tier Tribunal of General Regulatory Chamber ruling upholding fine against TikTok

On 8 July 2025, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a statement welcoming the First-tier Tribunal’s decision on a preliminary issue raised by TikTok in its appeal against the GBP 12.7 million monetary penalty notice issued in April 2023. The ruling confirmed that the ICO had the legal authority to issue the notice, rejecting TikTok’s claim that its processing fell under the UK General Data Protection Regulation's special purposes provisions for artistic or similar activities.