US Sues TikTok for Allegedly Collecting Children’s Data Without Consent

The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, alleging that they unlawfully collected personal data from children. The lawsuit claims TikTok violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by allowing children under 13 to create accounts without parental consent and collecting data such as email addresses, phone numbers, and location information.

This legal action follows a 2019 agreement between TikTok and the Federal Trade Commission, which required TikTok to comply with COPPA after previous allegations of illegal data collection from minors. The Justice Department asserts that TikTok has failed to uphold these obligations, continuing to gather personal information from young users without proper parental notice or consent.

TikTok offers a “Kids Mode” intended for users under 13, but the lawsuit alleges it inadequately prevents children from accessing the full app. It also claims TikTok lacks a straightforward process for parents to delete their children’s data and often ignores such requests.

TikTok, disputing the allegations, claims they relate to past practices and asserts ongoing efforts to enhance child safety on the platform. The Justice Department seeks civil penalties and a court order to ensure compliance with COPPA in the future.