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# Is Europe Losing Control of Its Data to Chinese Apps? Case Filed Against TikTok, WeChat and AliExpress
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/europe-losing-control-to-chinese-apps/
- Published: 2025-07-19T03:33:13.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-23T06:34:06.000Z
- Description: noyb files complaints against TikTok, AliExpress, and WeChat over GDPR violations.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Privacy 🛡️, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

We have grown used to [Big Tech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big%5FTech?ref=itsfoss.com) companies harvesting persona data and treating users as commodities to be bought and sold. Despite regulatory crackdowns and rising awareness among the general populace, the upper hand still remains with those greedy companies.

Laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (*GDPR*) in the [European Union](https://european-union.europa.eu/index%5Fen?ref=itsfoss.com) (EU) were designed to restore a sense of control to users by mandating transparency, access, and accountability. But enforcement is slow, and non-compliance is the norm.

This past week, three popular Chinese tech platforms, [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), [AliExpress](https://www.aliexpress.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), and [WeChat](https://www.wechat.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), **were accused of serious GDPR violations**. The complaints come from [noyb](https://noyb.eu/en/how-tiktok-aliexpress-wechat-ignore-your-gdpr-rights?ref=itsfoss.com), a Vienna-based group that focuses on fighting privacy violations and enforcing data protection laws in Europe.

## Noyb Drags Chinese Apps to Court

![a black/blue gradient banner that shows the official websites for tiktok, aliexpress, and wechat, there is a variety of content on these](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/07/tiktok-aliexpress-wechat-websites.png)

**TikTok, AliExpress, and WeChat each have a massive user base.*

noyb has formally filed three complaints with the data protection authorities (*DPAs*) of [Belgium](https://www.dataprotectionauthority.be/citizen?ref=itsfoss.com), [Greece](https://www.dpa.gr/en?ref=itsfoss.com), and the [Netherlands](https://www.autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl/en?ref=itsfoss.com), with each complaint targeting one of the three above-mentioned Chinese apps.

TikTok is the subject of the complaint in [Greece](https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2025-07/TikTok%5Fdata%20access%5Fcomplaint%5FEN%5F%20redacted.pdf?ref=itsfoss.com), AliExpress in [Belgium](https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2025-07/Aliexpress%5Fdata%20access%5Fcomplaint%20EN%5Fredacted.pdf?ref=itsfoss.com), and WeChat in the [Netherlands](https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2025-07/WeChat%5Fdata%20access%5Fcomplaint%5FEN%5Fredacted.pdf?ref=itsfoss.com). All three are **accused of failing to respond properly to user requests for access to their personal data**, a right guaranteed under the GDPR.

The unnamed users who had requested access to their personal data from these companies encountered textbook [stonewalling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewalling?ref=itsfoss.com) tactics. TikTok provided incomplete and confusing information. AliExpress sent corrupted files that could only be opened once. WeChat ignored the requests altogether.

[Kleanthi Sardeli](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kleanthi-sardeli-69673a171/?ref=itsfoss.com), Data Protection Lawyer at noyb, stated that:

> The GDPR makes it clear that companies must give their users specific information about the data they are processing about them. Just because they receive a lot of requests doesn’t mean they can withhold information.

The trio are **accused of violating Articles 12 and 15 of the GDPR**. [Article 12](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A02016R0679-20160504&ref=itsfoss.com#:~:text=Transparency%20and%20modalities-,Article%2012,-Transparent%20information%2C%20communication) requires companies to respond to data access requests in a transparent, easily accessible, and timely manner. [Article 15](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX%3A02016R0679-20160504&ref=itsfoss.com#:~:text=obligation%20of%20secrecy.-,Article%2015,-Right%20of%20access) gives users the right to obtain a copy of their personal data and detailed information about its processing.

noyb’s complaint states that TikTok, AliExpress, and WeChat failed to meet these obligations by providing incomplete, unreadable, or no data at all. The group has requested that the DPAs issue a decision on this and also suggested imposing administrative fines to discourage similar violations in the future.

*💬 Have you ever asked TikTok, AliExpress, or WeChat for your personal data and didn’t get a clear or complete answer? Share your experience below!*