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DOJ’s Legal Action Against TikTok: Child Privacy Violations Uncovered
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal proceedings against TikTok for breaching child privacy regulations and failing to adhere to a prior 2019 agreement established with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This lawsuit arises from an earlier inquiry led by the FTC, which forwarded its findings to the DOJ earlier this year, showcasing continued concerns surrounding TikTok’s compliance.
Background of Investigations
The FTC had been examining whether TikTok infringed upon the conditions set forth in an existing privacy settlement related to Musical.ly—the app that ByteDance acquired before launching TikTok. Recent investigations revealed that TikTok allegedly “egregiously” transgressed both this previous settlement and the stipulations outlined in the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), according to reports from the FTC.
Details of Allegations
The DOJ articulated serious accusations regarding TikTok’s handling of personal data belonging to minors on its platform. Since 2019, it is alleged that children have been allowed not only to establish standard accounts but also engage with adults through multimedia content without parental consent or notification. Particularly disturbing is that even when using a “Kids Mode”—designed for users under 13—TikTok purportedly amassed children’s email addresses and other sensitive information unlawfully. Furthermore, when parents requested deletion of their children’s accounts and related data, many such requests went ignored or inadequately addressed due to insufficient internal procedures within the company.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok has publicly contested these allegations, asserting that they reference past actions some of which have already been rectified. The company stated, “We disagree with these claims as many pertain to historical practices we have since improved upon.” They emphasize their commitment towards tiktok-over-child-safety-concerns/” title=”Judge dismisses Indiana state’s lawsuit against TikTok over child safety concerns”>child safety by offering age-restricted functionalities along with robust safeguards designed for young users. Additionally, features like default screen time limits and Family Pairing settings highlight their proactive measures in ensuring underage user protection.
An Important Moment for TikTok
This lawsuit emerges during a crucial time for TikTok as it prepares for federal court proceedings concerning regulations compelling ByteDance—its parent company—to divest from its U.S. operations under threat of facing significant restrictions within American markets.
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