Noyb Files Fresh GDPR Complaints Against TikTok, AliExpress, and WeChat
Online privacy watchdog Noyb has filed new complaints against TikTok, AliExpress, and WeChat, accusing the Chinese-owned platforms of failing to comply with key European data protection rules.
The Austria-based group, known as None of Your Business (Noyb), stated on Thursday that the three companies violated the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by not fulfilling data access requests from users.
TikTok, AliExpress, WeChat Accused of Violating Data Access Rights
According to Noyb, while Shein, Temu, and Xiaomi responded with more transparency after earlier complaints, TikTok, AliExpress, and WeChat “continued to violate” GDPR rules.
“Impossible to Understand”: TikTok’s Incomplete Response
Noyb alleged that TikTok only provided partial user data and in an “unstructured” format that made it impossible for users to understand how their personal data was being used or stored. The group described this as a deliberate obstruction of users’ right to know how their personal data is processed.
“All three tech companies have failed to comply with access requests… This makes it impossible for European users to exercise their fundamental right to privacy,” Noyb said in a statement.
Complaints Filed Across the EU: Greece, Belgium, Netherlands Take Lead
Noyb submitted:
A complaint against TikTok in Greece
A complaint against AliExpress in Belgium
A complaint against WeChat in the Netherlands
These cases urge respective data protection authorities to enforce access rights and impose fines where necessary.
Mounting Pressure on TikTok Amid EU Scrutiny
TikTok has been a repeated target of European regulators over data privacy concerns. In May 2025, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined TikTok €530 million ($610 million) for transferring personal data to China without sufficient protections.
While TikTok has claimed the data was “only accessed remotely,” regulators maintain that such practices violate GDPR standards.
China Denies Data Misuse Allegations
Beijing recently denied that it had instructed companies like TikTok and WeChat to collect or store user data illegally. But the wave of regulatory action suggests persistent distrust in Chinese-owned tech firms operating in Europe.
Noyb: “Chinese Apps Worse Than US Tech Giants”
Noyb, which has previously taken on Meta, Google, and other major U.S. firms, said the situation with Chinese apps is even more troubling.
“Chinese apps are even worse than US providers,” the group stated.
Founded in 2018 to enforce GDPR compliance, Noyb has played a critical role in holding tech giants accountable for privacy abuses.
The Bigger Picture: GDPR Enforcement Intensifies Across Europe
These new complaints underscore growing concerns within the EU about user data being accessed by foreign governments, especially through apps with questionable privacy practices.
With automated data processing, AI integrations, and geopolitical tensions rising, the EU continues to tighten its stance on digital rights and user protections.
