In a significant legal move, a coalition of 14 U.S. states has filed lawsuits against TikTok, accusing the popular video-sharing platform of violating privacy laws and exploiting children through addictive features. This legal action, announced on Tuesday, comes amid ongoing concerns regarding TikTok’s ownership by the China-based company ByteDance and the potential for a ban on the app in the United States.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading the charge, stated that the lawsuits stem from an investigation revealing that TikTok promotes social media addiction to enhance corporate profits. “TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content,” he said in a news release.
The lawsuits argue that TikTok’s features—such as beauty filters, endless scrolling, autoplay videos, and “likes”—exploit the vulnerability of young users. As a result, children become ensnared in a cycle of addiction, ultimately leading to harmful mental health effects and exposure to advertising content designed to generate revenue for the platform.
In response to the allegations, TikTok has labeled the claims as “inaccurate and misleading.” Spokesman Michael Hughes expressed disappointment over the lawsuits, stating, “We’ve endeavored to work with the Attorneys General for over two years, and it is incredibly disappointing they have taken this step rather than work with us on constructive solutions to industry-wide challenges.” Hughes emphasized TikTok’s commitment to safety, highlighting safeguards such as removing users suspected of being under 13 and implementing default screen time limits and privacy settings for minors.
New York Attorney General Letitia James added her concerns, noting that “young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok.” She criticized the platform’s claims of safety, stating, “TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true.”
The legal challenges come as TikTok battles a potential ban in the United States. A law set to take effect early next year mandates that the app divest from its Chinese ownership or face a prohibition. The U.S. government has raised alarms, alleging that TikTok could facilitate data collection for the Chinese government and act as a channel for propaganda. Both TikTok and China vehemently deny these accusations.
As TikTok prepares to address these lawsuits and navigate the looming threat of a ban, the stakes are high for the platform, which boasts 170 million users in the U.S. The outcome of these legal actions could have profound implications for the future of TikTok and its operations within the country.
Sources By Agencies