On Friday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the Chinese-owned social media app of illegally collecting personal information from millions of American children. The lawsuit claims that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by allowing children under 13 to create accounts without parental consent and failing to delete these accounts upon parental request.
DOJ spokesman Benjamin Mizer expressed the department’s concerns, stating, “The DOJ is deeply concerned that TikTok has continued to collect and retain children’s personal information despite a court order barring such conduct in 2019. With this lawsuit, the Department seeks to ensure that TikTok honors its obligation to protect children’s privacy rights.”
TikTok’s “Kids Mode,” which is supposed to cater to younger users, allegedly still collects personal data like email addresses. TikTok has denied these accusations, with spokesman Michael Hughes claiming, “We disagree with these allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed. We are proud of our efforts to protect children.”
This legal action comes as ByteDance faces a mandate to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer by January 2025 or face a ban in the U.S. This requirement follows a bipartisan law signed by President Joe Biden in April, reflecting ongoing concerns over privacy and national security.
Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized TikTok for different reasons: Democrats focus on privacy issues, while Republicans emphasize national security risks and the app’s potential for spreading propaganda. The lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to TikTok’s future in the U.S., highlighting critical issues of data privacy and security.
