Justice Department Sues TikTok Over Children’s Privacy Violations
The Justice Department on Friday sued TikTok and its China-based owner ByteDance, accusing the popular video app of violating a children’s privacy law by collecting data on millions of Americans under the age of 13. The lawsuit highlights a significant breach of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), according to the DOJ.
Massive-Scale Violation
TikTok, which boasts 170 million U.S. users, allegedly made it too easy for children to create accounts and subsequently collected their data, constituting a “massive-scale” violation of COPPA. The DOJ’s legal complaint states that children could easily bypass the app’s “age gates” by registering through Google and Instagram. Moreover, TikTok sometimes “failed to comply” with parents’ requests to delete their children’s accounts. Even TikTok’s “Kids Mode,” a simplified version designed for younger users, reportedly saved email addresses and other data.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, in June, the company expressed its disappointment with the agency’s decision to pursue litigation instead of continuing to work on a reasonable solution. This legal action follows a precedent set five years ago when regulators fined TikTok’s predecessor, the lip-syncing app Musical.ly, $5.7 million for similar charges. At that time, TikTok agreed to delete children’s data and implement company changes under a court order, which the DOJ now claims TikTok began violating shortly after the order took effect.
Constitutional Debate
TikTok has argued that the enforcement of COPPA in this context would violate constitutional free-speech rights. However, the DOJ countered last week, stating that Americans “have no First Amendment right to TikTok.”
The lawsuit underscores ongoing concerns about children’s privacy online and the regulatory challenges of enforcing protections in the digital age. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how social media platforms handle user data and comply with privacy laws, especially concerning minors.