A recent lawsuit filed by the United States has accused TikTok of infringing on children’s privacy rights by collecting their data without parental consent.
The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have collaborated in a civil case, alleging that the popular video-sharing platform violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
FTC Chair Lina Khan condemned TikTok’s actions, stating, “TikTok jeopardized the privacy of countless children in the country by knowingly breaching regulations.”
According to COPPA, websites are prohibited from collecting personal information from children below the age of 13 without parental approval.
The lawsuit alleges that since 2019, TikTok has allowed underage users to operate the app, collecting and utilizing their personal data without parental awareness.
Even accounts created under the “Kids Mode,” designed for users under 13, gathered sensitive information like email addresses, disregarding privacy concerns.
Justice department officials criticized TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, for neglecting parental requests to delete children’s accounts and data and for ineffective policies regarding underage users.
In response, Deputy Assistant Attorney Brian Boynton stated, “This legal action is essential to prevent repeat offenders like the defendants from misusing young children’s private data without consent.”
The United States had previously filed a COPPA-focused lawsuit against Musical.ly, which was later acquired by ByteDance and integrated into TikTok, prompting TikTok to modify its practices to comply with privacy laws.
The lawsuit challenges TikTok’s data collection practices, claiming it poses a national security threat, as stated by the US Justice Department amidst legal disputes over the app’s future.
TikTok faces challenges in court as it defends its rights under the First Amendment against US regulations that aim to ensure national security amid concerns about data privacy.
The legal battle between TikTok and the US government sheds light on the conflicting interests regarding freedom of speech and national security in the digital era.
TikTok’s future remains uncertain as it navigates through legal disputes and regulatory challenges that could impact its presence in the US market going forward.
AFP.