TikTok accused of collecting children’s data on ‘mass scale’ in DOJ lawsuit

[KARAH RUCKER]

TIKTOK IS FACING MORE LEGAL BATTLES IN THE U.S. –

THIS TIME –

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND ITS CHINESE PARENT COMPANY BYTEDANCE –

ACCUSING THEM OF FAILING TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S PRIVACY.

THE DOJ CLAIMS TIKTOK VIOLATED THE CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT, WHICH MANDATES THAT SERVICES AIMED AT CHILDREN MUST GET PARENTAL CONSENT BEFORE COLLECTING PERSONAL DATA FROM USERS UNDER 13.

THE LAWSUIT CALLED IT A “MASSIVE SCALE INVASION OF CHILDREN’S PRIVACY.”

THE DOJ IS ACCUSING TIKTOK OF ALLOWING CHILDREN TO CREATE STANDARD ACCOUNTS  –

ENABLING THEM TO POST AND SHARE VIDEOS AND MESSAGES –

WHILE COLLECTING PERSONAL DATA WITHOUT PARENTAL APPROVAL. 

THE DOJ SAYS TIKTOK HAS BEEN GATHERING AND KEEPING PERSONAL INFORMATION OF MILLIONS OF AMERICAN CHILDREN UNDER 13 FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THE FTC JOINED THE DOJ IN ITS LAWSUIT –

THE FTC CHAIR SAYING THE AGENCY “{The FTC} will continue to use the full scope of its authorities to protect children online — especially as firms deploy increasingly sophisticated digital tools to surveil kids and profit from their data.”

THE FTC IS SEEKING FINES THAT COULD REACH 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS **PER VIOLATION EACH DAY –

POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PENALTIES **IF TIKTOK IS FOUND AT FAULT –

THE COMPANY IS DISPUTING ALL THESE CLAIMS.

A SPOKESPERSON TOLD FOX BUSINESS, “WE DISAGREE WITH THESE ALLEGATIONS, MANY OF WHICH RELATE TO PAST EVENTS AND PRACTICES THAT ARE FACTUALLY INACCURATE OR HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. WE OFFER AGE-APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCES WITH STRONG SAFEGUARDS, ACTIVELY REMOVE SUSPECTED UNDERAGE USERS, AND HAVE INTRODUCED FEATURES LIKE DEFAULT SCREEN TIME LIMITS, FAMILY PAIRING, AND ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR MINORS.”

MEANWHILE, CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING A BILL TO EXTEND THE CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT TO INCLUDE TEENAGERS UP TO AGE 17. THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION ALSO AIMS TO BAN TARGETED ADS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS AND GIVE PARENTS AND MINORS THE OPTION TO DELETE THEIR DATA FROM SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL LAST WEEK IN A 91 TO 3 VOTE.

IT’S GAINED THE SIMILAR AMOUNT OF **BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AS A BILL PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT REQUIRES BYTEDANCE TO SELL ITS U.S. ASSETS OR FACE A BAN IN THE U.S. IF IT’S NOT DONE BY 2025.

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