U.S. Justice Department Sues TikTok Over Children's Privacy

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The lawsuit claims TikTok failed to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. This action is part of a broader crackdown on TikTok by the U.S. government.

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit Friday against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance over alleged failures to protect children's privacy on the social media app. The suit claims TikTok violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which mandates parental consent for collecting personal data from users under 13. This legal move is the latest in the Biden administration's broader crackdown on the popular social media platform.

With around 170 million U.S. users, TikTok is entangled in legislative battles. A recently proposed law would force ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets by January 19 or face a ban. Concerns persist about the Chinese-owned app potentially mishandling American users' data and influencing content harmfully.

The lawsuit, supported by the Federal Trade Commission, aims to cease what it calls 'massive-scale invasions of children's privacy.' FTC Chair Lina Khan highlighted TikTok's repeated and knowing violations, representing risks to millions of children. TikTok contests the allegations, asserting that past practices cited in the suit are outdated or inaccurate. The social media giant reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding children's privacy.

(With inputs from agencies.)