The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the popular social media platform of allowing children under the age of 13 to create accounts without parental consent. According to the complaint, TikTok’s “Kids Mode” feature enabled minors to access the platform and collect personal information without proper authorization, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
The lawsuit alleges that TikTok’s age verification techniques were inadequate, as the app allowed users to bypass age restrictions by restarting the account creation process. Additionally, TikTok’s integration with other platforms like Instagram and Google resulted in accounts being categorized as “age unknown,” further complicating the process of age verification.
The DOJ is seeking to prevent TikTok from violating COPPA in the future and impose civil penalties for each violation. Under the FTC Act, these penalties could amount to up to $51,744 per violation, per day. The Federal Trade Commission played a significant role in the investigation that led to the DOJ’s complaint, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations against TikTok.
In response to the lawsuit, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the company disagrees with the DOJ’s claims, asserting that many of the allegations are either factually inaccurate or have already been addressed. The spokesperson also emphasized TikTok’s commitment to safeguarding children and enhancing platform safety measures.
The timing of the DOJ’s lawsuit is significant, as it coincides with TikTok’s impending legal battle against a new US law that could potentially ban the app unless certain conditions are met by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. This legal clash underscores the complex regulatory landscape that TikTok operates in and the challenges it faces in ensuring compliance with US laws and regulations.
Overall, the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against TikTok sheds light on the critical issue of child privacy and online safety. The allegations raised in the complaint underscore the importance of robust age verification mechanisms and parental oversight in digital platforms catering to young users. As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how TikTok will address the allegations and implement measures to enhance child privacy protections on its platform.
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