Ireland: Data Protection Commission announced investigation into TikTok's transfer of personal data of users in European Economic Area to servers in China

On 10 July 2025, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced the launch of an investigation into TikTok's transfers of European Economic Area (EEA) users’ personal data to servers located in China. The investigation applies to TikTok’s processing and transfer of EEA users’ personal data. The investigation followed TikTok’s admission that limited EEA user data had been stored in China contrary to assurances in DPA's previous inquiry that EEA user data were stored on servers located outside of China and were accessed remotely by TikTok staff from within China. The investigation will assess the company’s compliance with several provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, including accountability, transparency on third-country transfers, cooperation with supervisory authorities, and the lawfulness of such transfers.