In a recent development, the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the social media platform has been allowing children under the age of 13 to create accounts without parental consent. The DOJ claims that TikTok has been collecting extensive data on these young users, in violation of the US child privacy law. This has sparked a major controversy and raised concerns about the protection of children’s privacy online.
The lawsuit alleges that TikTok has been knowingly enabling kids to access its platform through a “Kids Mode” feature, where they can view videos but not upload them. However, during this process, TikTok has been collecting personal information such as unique device identifiers and IP addresses, without obtaining proper consent from parents. This goes against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires parental consent for children under 13 to use online services.
The DOJ claims that TikTok’s age-gating techniques are deficient in multiple ways. For instance, the platform used to allow users to restart the account creation process even if they had originally entered an age indicating that they are under 13. Additionally, TikTok allowed users to log in through Instagram or Google, which categorized the accounts as “age unknown,” further complicating the age verification process.
Violation Scale and Penalties
The DOJ alleges that TikTok has allowed millions of kids to use its platform, but the exact scale of the violations is difficult to determine due to the platform’s lack of compliance with recording its COPPA practices. As a result, the DOJ is seeking to prevent TikTok from violating COPPA in the future and impose civil penalties for each violation. Under the FTC Act, these penalties can amount to $51,744 per violation, per day.
The Federal Trade Commission played a significant role in uncovering the violations by TikTok. Following an investigation, the FTC referred a complaint against TikTok to the DOJ, citing potential violations under the FTC Act and COPPA. This collaborative effort led to the DOJ’s lawsuit against the social media platform, emphasizing the importance of protecting children’s privacy online.
Response from TikTok
In response to the lawsuit, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the company disagrees with the DOJ’s claims, noting that many of the alleged incidents are related to past events or have already been addressed. The spokesperson emphasized TikTok’s commitment to protecting children and assured ongoing efforts to improve the platform’s safety measures.
The Department of Justice’s lawsuit against TikTok highlights the critical importance of protecting children’s privacy online. As social media platforms continue to attract young users, it is essential for companies like TikTok to adhere to strict guidelines and regulations to ensure the safety and security of underage individuals. This case serves as a reminder of the responsibility that tech companies have in safeguarding the privacy of their youngest users.
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