U.S. Sues TikTok For Failing To Protect Kids’ Privacy
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance on, saying they didn’t protect kids’ privacy on the app. The Biden administration has been tough on TikTok recently. The government claims TikTok broke a law called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which says that apps for kids must get permission from parents before collecting personal information from users under 13 years old.
TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, has about 170 million users in the U.S. They are currently fighting a new rule that says ByteDance must sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 19, or the app could be banned. The lawsuit is part of the U.S. government’s concern that TikTok collects too much data from Americans and may use it in ways that could be harmful.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) joined the lawsuit, saying it’s meant to stop TikTok’s “unlawful massive-scale invasions of children’s privacy.” Representative Frank Pallone (D), said the lawsuit shows why it’s important to separate TikTok from Chinese control, as it could lead to the Chinese government getting Americans’ personal information.
The Justice Department said TikTok let kids under 13 use the app, where they could create and share videos and messages with others, without getting permission from their parents. The U.S. claims that for years, millions of American children have been using TikTok, and the app “has been collecting and keeping their personal information.”
FTC Chair Lina Khan said, “TikTok knowingly and repeatedly violated kids’ privacy, threatening the safety of millions of children across the country.” The FTC wants to fine TikTok up to $51,744 for each day they broke the rules, which could add up to billions of dollars.
In June, TikTok started a court case to overturn what they call an “unconstitutional” ban on the app. In April, President Biden signed a national security bill that could force TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the U.S. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew responded with a video on the platform, saying, “Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere.”
In the video, Chew also said, “Make no mistake, this is a ban—a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice. Politicians may say otherwise. But don’t get confused.”
Some people took to social media to share their thoughts on the lawsuit. One person asked why the same energy isn’t being put into other social media platforms. “It’s nice that our employees in DC are completely ignoring the dangers of all the other social media platforms,” they said.
Another questioned parents’ accountability, asking, “Why aren’t parents being held responsible for not monitoring their child’s access to social media and the internet?” One could say that parents can’t always keep track of everything their child sees or does online, especially with so many apps and websites. Even with the best intentions, it’s tough to catch everything, so extra protections may be needed to keep kids safe and their privacy secure.
