The Justice Department has accused popular social media platform TikTok of illegally collecting children’s data and allowing users under the age of 13 to create accounts. In a statement released on Tuesday, the department alleged that TikTok failed to obtain parental consent before gathering personal information from children, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
According to the complaint, TikTok knew that a significant portion of its users were under the age of 13 but still allowed them to create accounts without parental consent. The Justice Department also claimed that TikTok failed to adequately secure the personal information of children, putting their privacy at risk.
This isn’t the first time TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data collection practices. The company has been under investigation by numerous regulators around the world for similar allegations, including claims that it shared user data with Chinese authorities and violated users’ privacy rights.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has denied the allegations and stated that it has implemented measures to protect children’s data on its platform. The company has also pointed out that it has made changes to its app to prevent underage users from creating accounts without parental consent.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit against TikTok is seeking monetary damages and an injunction to prevent the company from continuing to violate COPPA. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for how social media platforms handle children’s data and privacy in the future.
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