DOJ sues TikTok over alleged child privacy law violation
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The TikTok logo is seen on a mobile device on July 17. Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Justice Department sued TikTok and its Chinese-owned parent company on Friday, alleging the social media app violates children's online privacy law.
The big picture: The popular platform engages in "massive-scale invasions of children's privacy" by collecting data from kids, who can create accounts without their parent's consent, the department said in the complaint.
- The department also accused TikTok and its parent company ByteDance of "failing to comply with parents' requests to delete their children's accounts and information."
What they're saying: "We disagree with these allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed," a TikTok spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
- The company said it offers "age-appropriate experiences with stringent safeguards" and removes users who are suspected to be underage.
- "We are proud of our efforts to protect children, and we will continue to update and improve the platform," the spokesperson added.
Catch up quick: The Federal Trade Commission announced in June that it referred a complaint against TikTok to the Justice Department over potential violations of the federal law governing children's privacy.
- The FTC said its investigation found "reason to believe" that TikTok has violated or will soon violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits website operators from knowingly collecting, using or disclosing personal information from children under the age of 13 without parental consent.
- The FTC began reviewing that compliance in 2019, after a $5.7 million settlement with TikTok's predecessor Musical.ly for violating COPPA — the record largest fine at the time in the law's 20+ year history.
Zoom out: The app has been facing scrutiny for years for its handling of children's data privacy.
- European regulators fined TikTok over $368 million last year for its lack of protection of children's personal information.
- The company also faced questioning in Congress over its impact on children's mental health and addiction.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details and background.
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