In a major new development, which could mean more legal trouble for TikTok, 13 states and DC have instituted lawsuits against TikTok. The social media platform has been accused of knowingly employing addictive software which encourages kids to keep watching for long periods and also misrepresenting its content moderation effectiveness.
14 US States Files Lawsuit Against Tiktok
The lawsuits against TikTok have been filed in the District of Columbia and 13 other US states and will widen the legal fight of TikTok with U.S. regulators. The lawsuit also seeks financial penalties against the Chinese-owned company.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement,
“TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost 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.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James stated,
“Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok.”
The lawsuits against TikTok allege that it seeks to maximize the time which kids spend on the app in order to make them a target of advertisements.
TikTok has rebutted these charges and claimed,
“Many of which we believe to be inaccurate and misleading, and that it was disappointing the states chose to sue rather than work with us on constructive solutions to industry-wide challenges.”
It added that TikTok has adequate safety features, which include setting default screen time limits and privacy defaults for minors under 16.
Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb accused Tik-Tok of being a platform which facilitates unlicensed money transmission business via its live streaming and virtual currency features.
In an interview, Schwalb said,
“TikTok’s platform is dangerous by design. It’s an intentionally addictive product that is designed to get young people addicted to their screens,”
The lawsuit also accused TikTok of facilitating the sexual exploitation of underage users and its live streaming and virtual presence is akin to a virtual strip club with no age restrictions.
TikTok Facing A Slew Of Past Lawsuits
Vermont, Illinois, South Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Oregon, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Washington State are the states which have sued the social media platform. Earlier in March 2022, eight states, which also included Massachusetts and California, had launched probes on the effects of TikTok on young people. The U.S. Justice Department and other states had previously sued TikTok for not protecting young kids from harm.
Also Read: Who is TikTok User Mei Leung, Who Spent $21K on a Single Night Party?
