Washington/New York: TikTok is facing a wave of lawsuits filed by 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday, alleging that the popular social media platform harms young users and fails to protect them adequately. The lawsuits, filed separately in New York, California, the District of Columbia, and 11 other states, broaden TikTok’s ongoing legal battle with U.S. regulators and seek significant financial penalties against the company.
The states claim TikTok employs intentionally addictive software designed to keep children engaged for extended periods while misrepresenting the effectiveness of its content moderation practices. “TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated. “TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content.”
According to the lawsuits, TikTok aims to maximize user engagement to deliver targeted advertisements. “Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
In response, TikTok expressed strong disagreement with the allegations, describing many claims as “inaccurate and misleading.” The company expressed disappointment that the states opted to sue rather than collaborate on constructive solutions to industry-wide challenges. TikTok emphasized its commitment to user safety, highlighting features like default screen time limits and privacy settings for minors under 16.
Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb alleged that TikTok operates an unlicensed money transmission business through its live streaming and virtual currency features. “TikTok’s platform is dangerous by design. It’s an intentionally addictive product that is designed to get young people addicted to their screens,” Schwalb said in an interview.
Also Read | Elon Musk’s X Gets Approval to Resume Service in Brazil After Complying with Court Demands
‘Virtual Strip Club with No Age Restrictions’
The lawsuit from Washington accuses TikTok of facilitating the sexual exploitation of underage users, asserting that its live streaming and virtual currency features “operate like a virtual strip club with no age restrictions.”
The states involved in the lawsuits include Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. In March 2022, eight states, including California and Massachusetts, initiated a nationwide investigation into TikTok’s impact on young users.
Also Read | Google Faces Potential Breakup as U.S. Seeks to Challenge Online Dominance
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against TikTok in August, alleging that the platform fails to protect children’s privacy adequately. Other states, including Utah and Texas, have previously sued TikTok for not safeguarding children from harm, to which TikTok has consistently responded by rejecting the allegations in court filings.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is also contending with a U.S. law that could potentially ban the app in the United States.
