TikTok to block accounts in Italy to ensure users are of correct age

TikTok agreed with the Italian data protection authority on Wednesday to shut down all accounts in the country from 9 February in order to make sure all users are over 13.

The usage of the app by children under 13 came under fire in Italy after the death of a 10-year-old girl during the previous month that has been blamed on a 'challenge' among users on the platform.

Prosecutors in Palermo are still investigating the case.

The authority said TikTok would ask users to provide their date of birth before allowing them back onto the app and would remove all accounts of users that did not meet the age requirements.

In addition to the request that users state their age, the company also committed to considering using artificial intelligence systems to identify users below the age of 13, the authority said in a statement according to Reuters.