The US Department of Justice has filed a complaint against TikTok, accusing the Chinese-owned social media giant of “widespread violations of children’s privacy laws.” This action comes amidst ongoing tensions between the United States and TikTok, which faces potential bans following a law passed in April by Congress.
TikTok, operated by ByteDance, has a massive user base in the United States, including many teenagers and young adults. The complaint alleges that TikTok knowingly allowed children under 13 to create accounts, leading to extensive data collection without parental consent. The DOJ claims that millions of children interacted with adult users and accessed adult content on the platform.
Despite implementing Kids Mode and other protective measures, the DOJ argues that TikTok failed to adequately inform parents or obtain necessary consent. These allegations are part of a broader concern that TikTok collects data on American citizens on behalf of Beijing, posing a national security threat.
TikTok denies these allegations, stating that many relate to past practices that have been addressed. The company emphasizes its efforts to protect young users, including deleting accounts for users under 13 and imposing viewing time limits.
The complaint follows a June notification from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the DOJ, indicating potential violations of a 2019 settlement agreement. TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly, had previously been fined $5.7 million for improper data collection from minors.
Deputy Attorney General Brian Boynton emphasized the necessity of this complaint to prevent repeat offenses and ensure parental control over children’s data. The legal action aims to prevent children under 13 from using the regular TikTok app.
TikTok is not the only platform under scrutiny. In October, American states filed lawsuits against Meta, accusing Facebook and Instagram of harming young people’s mental and physical health. The European Commission is also investigating Facebook and Instagram for similar concerns.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing efforts to regulate social media platforms and protect children’s privacy and well-being.
