Cybersecurity Policy Report, Warning About TikTok’s Data Transfers Issued in Denmark, (Jan 9, 2026)
By Tony Foley
Datatilsynet, the Danish data protection authority, joined other European DPAs yesterday in providing guidance for users regarding the transfer of personal data to China by social media app TikTok.
The agency’s comments come after similar warnings issued by DPAs in Slovakia, Spain, Norway, and the Netherlands about the transfers. According to Datatilsynet, TikTok notified its users of the continued transfers last month, citing the fact that a decision by the Irish Data Protection Commission in May 2025 had been put on hold in December by the Irish High Court until TikTok’s appeal is resolved.
Datatilsynet said that, although TikTok can, for now, continue to transfer data from Europe to China, this did not change the assessment of Datatilsynet and other supervisory authorities that the transfers are illegal. The agency made the following recommendations for individuals with TikTok accounts:
Carefully read TikTok’s warning on the continued transfers, as well as its privacy policy;
Check in privacy settings to what extent TikTok has access to cameras, microphones, contacts, and location data;
Consider whether they want to continue to use TikTok or to temporarily delete or deactivate their account; and
Think carefully about the information they share on the app, avoiding sharing sensitive personal data about themselves or others.
The agency made similar recommendations to companies, and other organizations with a TikTok presence, including recommending impact assessments and considering, on the basis of the results, whether it was appropriate to continue to use the app. For those companies and authorities that decide to continue using TikTok, Datatilsynet said they should be clear and transparent with their target audience about the potential risks to their rights.
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