The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the Chinese-owned app of illegally collecting personal data 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 refusing to delete their accounts when requested by parents.
Benjamin Mizer, a DOJ spokesman, expressed concern over TikTok’s practices. “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,” Mizer said. “With this lawsuit, the Department seeks to ensure that TikTok honors its obligation to protect children’s privacy rights.”
Despite having a “Kids Mode” designed for younger users, TikTok allegedly collected and stored personal information such as email addresses. TikTok has denied the accusations, with spokesman Michael Hughes stating, “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 lawsuit comes as ByteDance faces pressure to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer by January 2025 or face a ban in the U.S., following a bipartisan law signed by President Joe Biden in April. The app has faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with Democrats focusing on privacy concerns and Republicans highlighting national security risks and the app’s spread of propaganda.
As this legal battle unfolds, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, raising important questions about data privacy and national security.
