The Justice Department has sued TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, alleging that the popular social media app violates children's online privacy laws. According to the complaint filed on Friday, TikTok engages in large-scale invasions of children's privacy by collecting data from underage users who can create accounts without parental consent.
The lawsuit claims that TikTok has not complied with parents' requests to delete their children's accounts and information. A TikTok spokesperson responded to these allegations, stating that many of the claims are related to past practices that have been addressed. The spokesperson emphasized that the company offers age-appropriate experiences with strict safeguards and removes users suspected to be underage. They also highlighted TikTok's ongoing efforts to protect children and improve the platform.
This legal action follows a June referral from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which investigated potential violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The FTC had previously fined TikTok's predecessor, Musical.ly, $5.7 million in 2019 for violating COPPA, marking the largest fine in the law's history at that time.
TikTok has faced increasing scrutiny over its handling of children's data privacy. Last year, European regulators fined the app over $368 million for failing to adequately protect children's personal information. Additionally, TikTok has been questioned in Congress about its impact on children's mental health and potential addiction issues.
The ongoing legal and regulatory challenges underscore the growing concerns over the privacy and safety of children using social media platforms like TikTok. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how such platforms operate and protect their youngest users.