The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the Chinese social media giant has illegally collected personal information 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 failing to delete these accounts upon parental request.
DOJ spokesman Benjamin Mizer voiced the department’s concerns, saying, “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. With this lawsuit, the Department seeks to ensure that TikTok honors its obligation to protect children’s privacy rights.”
Even TikTok’s “Kids Mode,” designed for younger users, allegedly collects and stores personal data like email addresses. TikTok has denied these claims, 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 is under pressure to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer by January 2025 or face a total ban in the U.S. The law mandating this sale, passed with bipartisan support and signed by President Joe Biden, underscores growing concerns over data privacy and national security.
TikTok has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Democrats primarily focus on privacy issues, while Republicans emphasize the app’s national security risks and potential for spreading propaganda. The outcome of this lawsuit could significantly impact TikTok’s presence in the U.S. and broader discussions on data privacy and security.
