The U.S. government has launched a new lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the social media giant of illegally collecting children’s data and failing to delete accounts upon parental request.
The Department of Justice claims that TikTok’s actions represent a “massive-scale” invasion of child privacy, violating laws that mandate parental consent for data collection from users under 13.
Officials noted that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, are “repeat offenders,” referencing a similar case from 2019.
The lawsuit alleges that TikTok’s methods for screening child accounts are inadequate and that the company hindered parents’ efforts to delete their children’s accounts.
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A review of 1,700 deletion requests from 2019 to 2020 showed that 30% of these accounts were still active by November 2021.
TikTok disputes the allegations, asserting pride in its efforts to safeguard children. The company stated that it proactively removes underage users and has implemented protective measures such as default screen-time limits and enhanced privacy settings for minors.
“We disagree with these allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed,” a TikTok spokesperson said. “We are proud of our efforts to protect children, and we will continue to update and improve the platform.”
The lawsuit adds to the mounting pressure on TikTok and ByteDance, which are already facing potential bans in the U.S.
The complaint demands that TikTok cease its alleged unlawful practices and seeks penalties for each violation.
“This action is necessary to prevent the defendants, who are repeat offenders and operate on a massive scale, from collecting and using young children’s private information without any parental consent or control,” stated Brian Boynton, principal deputy assistant attorney general and head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
TikTok, one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, claims over 1 billion users globally, including more than 170 million in the U.S. Pew Research surveys indicate that over 60% of U.S. teens aged 13-17 use the platform, with more than half engaging daily.
The U.S. government aims “to put an end” to TikTok’s alleged “unlawful massive-scale invasions of children’s privacy.” The company has faced similar fines in the UK and Europe over related issues.
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