Justice Department Sues TikTok Over Alleged Children's Privacy Violations

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the company of violating children's online privacy laws and breaching a settlement previously reached with the FTC. The lawsuit follows an investigation revealing TikTok's alleged failure to secure parental consent before gathering data from children under 13.

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging violations of children's online privacy law and breaching a previous settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The complaint was filed in a California federal court amid ongoing legal battles over TikTok's operation in the US.

The lawsuit centers on accusations that TikTok, along with its parent company ByteDance, collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). According to Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, the action aims to prevent the firms from continuing such practices.

The complaint follows a comprehensive FTC investigation. TikTok's predecessor, Musical.ly, faced similar allegations in 2019 and paid $5.7 million to settle the case. Despite a court order, the government claims that TikTok has not complied with COPPA, allowing millions of children to use the app and exposing them to adult content. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and injunctive relief.

(With inputs from agencies.)