US Justice Department Sues TikTok for Violating Children’s Privacy
The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, accusing them of not protecting children’s privacy on the popular social media app. This lawsuit is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to address concerns about TikTok’s data practices and national security implications.
The lawsuit alleges that TikTok violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from users under 13 without parental consent. The Justice Department claims TikTok allowed children to create accounts and collect personal information without parental consent.
TikTok, which has around 170 million users in the US, is also facing pressure from a new law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets by January 19, 2025, or face a ban. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has joined the lawsuit, seeking penalties that could amount to billions of dollars if TikTok is found liable.
FTC Chair Lina Khan stated, “TikTok knowingly and repeatedly violated kids’ privacy, threatening the safety of millions of children across the country.” The FTC is pursuing penalties of up to USD 51,744 per violation per day.
TikTok has responded by disputing the claims, arguing that many concerns relate to past practices that are either incorrect or have been addressed. “We are proud of our efforts to protect children, and we will continue to update and improve the platform,” TikTok said in a statement.
The lawsuit follows reports from 2020 that investigated TikTok’s compliance with a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting children’s data. TikTok has also faced fines from the European Union and the UK for similar issues.
In related news, the US Senate recently passed a bill extending COPPA to cover teenagers up to age 17, banning targeted advertising to minors, and allowing parents and children to delete their information from social media platforms. The bill now awaits approval from the House, which is on recess until September.
Doubts Revealed
US Justice Department -: The US Justice Department is a part of the United States government that makes sure laws are followed and takes action when they are not.
TikTok -: TikTok is a popular app where people can create and share short videos, often with music and special effects.
ByteDance -: ByteDance is the company that owns TikTok. It is based in China and creates various apps and services.
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act -: The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is a law in the United States that makes sure websites and apps get permission from parents before collecting personal information from kids under 13.
Federal Trade Commission -: The Federal Trade Commission is a part of the US government that protects consumers and makes sure businesses are fair and honest.
penalties -: Penalties are punishments or fines that someone has to pay when they break a rule or law.
