US Files Lawsuit Against TikTok for ‘Massive-Scale’ Privacy Violations of Children Under 13
The U.S. government has accused TikTok of breaching the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This federal law mandates that services targeting children must secure parental consent before collecting personal information from users under the age of 13.
US Government Files Lawsuit Against TikTok for Children’s Privacy Violations
The U.S. Justice Department, supported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), filed a lawsuit on Friday against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, alleging significant violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The lawsuit accuses TikTok of failing to protect children’s privacy by allowing users under the age of 13 to create accounts and share personal information without obtaining parental consent.
Key points from the lawsuit:
– Allegations: TikTok is accused of knowingly allowing children to create accounts and share content on its platform while collecting their personal data without parental approval.
– Regulatory Action: The FTC, which referred the case to the DOJ, is seeking substantial penalties for each violation, up to $51,744 per day. The FTC’s Chair, Lina Khan, emphasized the threat posed to children’s safety by these alleged privacy breaches.
– Company Response: TikTok expressed disappointment over the litigation, stating that it had been working with the FTC to address privacy concerns and preferred continuing negotiations rather than facing legal action.
– Broader Context: The lawsuit adds to ongoing scrutiny of TikTok, which has faced previous fines from the EU and UK for similar issues. Additionally, TikTok is currently battling a new U.S. law that could force it to divest its American assets.
– Legislative Developments: The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill to expand COPPA protections to teenagers up to age 17 and to limit targeted advertising to minors. This bill still needs to pass the Republican-controlled House to become law.
TikTok’s extensive user base of around 170 million Americans is at the center of these legal and regulatory challenges, highlighting ongoing concerns over data privacy and platform safety for younger users.
