US Takes Legal Action Against TikTok for Data Privacy Concerns

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, for allegedly failing to safeguard children's privacy on the popular social media platform. Announced on Friday, the lawsuit claims TikTok violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which mandates that services directed at children must obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from users under 13 years old. This legal action is part of broader concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and its potential influence on American users. The DOJ asserts that TikTok knowingly allowed children to create accounts and share content with adults, leading to the collection of personal information from millions of American children under the age of 13. FTC Chair Lina Khan emphasized that TikTok's actions posed a significant threat to the safety of children across the nation. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking substantial penalties, potentially amounting to billions of dollars, for TikTok's alleged violations. In response, TikTok has expressed disagreement with the allegations, claiming that many relate to past practices that have been addressed. The company stated its commitment to protecting children and improving its platform. The lawsuit follows previous investigations into TikTok's compliance with a 2019 agreement aimed at enhancing children's privacy protections. As TikTok faces this legal challenge, it also contends with legislative efforts in the U.S. Senate to expand COPPA protections to teenagers and restrict targeted advertising to minors. The proposed bill must pass the Republican-controlled House to become law, adding further scrutiny to TikTok's operations in the United States.