TikTok Sued By DOJ, Collected Personal Information From Minors
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the Chinese social media giant of illegally collecting personal information from millions of American children using the app. This legal action targets TikTok and its parent company ByteDance for allegedly violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the lawsuit claims TikTok knowingly allowed children under 13 to create accounts without parental consent. Furthermore, the company allegedly ignored requests from parents to delete their children’s accounts.
DOJ spokesman Benjamin Mizer expressed concern over TikTok’s continued data collection practices, despite a 2019 court order prohibiting such actions. “With this lawsuit, the Department seeks to ensure that TikTok honors its obligation to protect children’s privacy rights and parents’ efforts to protect their children,” Mizer stated.
The lawsuit highlights that even TikTok’s “Kids Mode,” which is supposedly designed for younger users, still collects and stores personal information like email addresses in a database.
TikTok has denied the allegations. “We disagree with these allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed,” said TikTok spokesman Michael Hughes. He emphasized the company’s commitment to protecting children and improving the platform.
This legal battle coincides with ByteDance’s ultimatum to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer by January 2025 or face a complete ban in the U.S. This mandate follows a bipartisan law signed by President Joe Biden in April, reflecting growing concerns about the app’s national security risks and data privacy issues.
TikTok, which started as a platform for users to share lip-syncing videos, has faced criticism from both political parties. Democrats primarily focus on privacy issues, while Republicans highlight national security threats and the app’s role in spreading propaganda with left-wing biases.
As the lawsuit unfolds, TikTok’s future in the American market remains uncertain, with significant implications for data privacy and national security.
