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In lawsuit, Justice Department says TikTok collected data on children

In lawsuit, Justice Department says TikTok collected data on children

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, citing allegations of violating child privacy laws. According to CBS's Scott McFarland, TikTok, which boasts 170 million users in the United States, is accused of allowing children under the age of 13 to create accounts that enable them to interact with adults on the platform. The Justice Department contends that TikTok collected and retained personal information from these children without obtaining parental consent.

Despite TikTok offering a "kids mode" designed for users under 13, which imposes stricter limitations on their platform interaction, the lawsuit claims that TikTok failed to implement adequate safeguards to prevent children from signing up for general accounts.

In response, TikTok has released a statement to CBS News expressing disagreement with the allegations. The company asserts that many of the claims relate to outdated practices and events that either are factually incorrect or have already been addressed. TikTok emphasized its commitment to protecting children and stated that it continues to update and improve its platform to enhance child safety.

This lawsuit adds to the growing federal scrutiny of ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company. TikTok is also preparing to contest a new legal statute it argues infringes upon the First Amendment and could potentially lead to a ban of the app in the United States as early as January 19th.

Scott McFarland reports, "Our kids are at risk on your platform," reflecting the concerns at the forefront of the legal challenges faced by TikTok.

Keywords

  • Department of Justice
  • TikTok
  • ByteDance
  • Child privacy laws
  • Data collection
  • Parental consent
  • Kids mode
  • Safeguards
  • Federal scrutiny
  • Legal statute
  • First Amendment

FAQ

What is the current issue leading to the Justice Department's lawsuit against TikTok?

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and parent company ByteDance for allegedly allowing children under 13 to create accounts, interact with adults, and collect their personal information without parental consent.

What is TikTok accused of in the lawsuit?

TikTok is accused of violating child privacy laws by enabling children under 13 to create general accounts and retain their personal information without obtaining parental consent.

How has TikTok responded to these allegations?

TikTok has expressed disagreement with the allegations, pointing out that many claims are outdated, factually inaccurate, or have already been addressed. The company emphasized its ongoing efforts to protect children and improve platform safety.

In addition to the current lawsuit, TikTok and its parent company ByteDance are also challenging a new legal statute they claim violates the First Amendment. This statute could potentially result in a ban on TikTok in the United States as early as January 19th.

What measures does TikTok currently offer for young users?

TikTok offers a "kids mode" that restricts the access of users under 13, although the lawsuit argues that the company failed to prevent children from creating general accounts bypassing these restrictions.

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