TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, is facing more trouble as the US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the company and its parent company, ByteDance. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok violated children’s privacy laws by allowing children under 13 years old to create and use accounts without parental consent, collecting extensive data from these children, and failing to delete the accounts and data even when parents requested it.
FTC Chair Lina Khan stated, „TikTok knowingly and repeatedly violated kids‘ privacy, threatening the safety of millions of children across the country.“ The FTC is committed to using its authorities to protect children online, especially as companies use sophisticated digital tools to surveil kids and profit from their data.
In response to the allegations, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the company disagrees with the claims and that many of the charges are inaccurate or pertain to past events that have been addressed. The spokesperson emphasized TikTok’s efforts to protect children, including age-appropriate experiences, stringent safeguards, proactive removal of suspected underage users, and features like default screentime limits and Family Pairing.
This lawsuit is the latest development in the ongoing conflict between the US government and TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company. In April, President Joe Biden signed legislation that could lead to the banning of TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sells it within a year. Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about TikTok’s potential for Chinese government surveillance, while TikTok has denied these allegations.
The Senate recently passed bipartisan legislation aimed at imposing safety and privacy requirements for children on technology platforms, similar to issues addressed in the TikTok lawsuit. This legislation includes provisions for an „eraser button“ that would allow parents and children to delete personal information from a service.
Since 2019, TikTok has offered a Kids Mode for users under 13, restricting certain features like creating or uploading videos, messaging other users, or posting public information. However, the lawsuit alleges that TikTok still collects personal information from these users and that young users can easily bypass age requirements by entering a different birthday.
The lawsuit also highlights difficulties for parents in requesting the deletion of their child’s account, noting that TikTok’s parental guidance materials do not clearly explain the deletion process. The company’s practices, such as allowing users to log in with credentials from other services, have also raised concerns about age verification.
As the legal battle between TikTok and the US government continues, the future of the popular app remains uncertain. The outcome of this lawsuit and ongoing legislative efforts will shape the landscape of digital privacy and children’s online safety.