DPC to Reconsider TikTok EU-China Data Transfer Suspension After Court Ruling

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) will decide on new sanctions against TikTok after the High Court told it to reconsider an order to suspend data transfers from the EU to China. The DPC, TikTok’s lead EU privacy regulator, had fined the Chinese tech giant €530 million a year ago and ordered the suspension if data processing wasn't compliant within six months.

The High Court paused the suspension order pending TikTok’s appeal. While the court upheld the DPC’s finding that TikTok breached EU privacy rules, it instructed the regulator to reassess the corrective measures. Des Hogan, DPC chair, stated the court requested a reassessment because the DPC had not clearly outlined its consideration of some of TikTok’s submissions.

Hogan confirmed the DPC is reviewing the judgment to understand the court’s concerns regarding their process. Following this, the DPC will decide whether to impose new sanctions, which TikTok would have the right to appeal. The DPC’s May 2025 decision found TikTok failed to demonstrate how data accessed remotely by personnel in China was protected equivalently to EU standards, thus not addressing potential access by Chinese authorities.

TikTok maintains it has never received or provided European user data to Chinese authorities. A separate judgment concerning TikTok’s appeal against the €530 million fine was shared with both parties on Tuesday for consideration, with public release expected later.