DOJ sues TikTok over children’s data handling since 2019
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil consumer protection lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, alleging the social media platform unlawfully collected and retained personal data from children under 13 in violation of United States privacy laws. The complaint claims TikTok collected data even in "Kids Mode" without parental consent and that these violations allowed underage users to access adult content. TikTok disputes the allegations, stating that many relate to past events and practices that have been addressed.
Key Takeaways
- The DOJ filed a civil consumer protection complaint in federal court in California on Friday.
- The complaint says TikTok collected a “wide variety” of personal information from children who created accounts dating back to 2019.
- Even in TikTok’s “Kids Mode,” the DOJ alleges the company collected and retained email addresses and other personal information without notifying or getting consent from parents.
- The department says the alleged violations resulted in millions of children under 13 using the regular TikTok app and accessing adult content.
- TikTok said many of the allegations relate to past events and practices that are either inaccurate or already addressed.
Why It Matters
This adds another federal legal front for TikTok, this time centered on child privacy rather than the app’s national security fight. The complaint targets data collection practices, including accounts created in TikTok’s “Kids Mode,” and claims the result was millions of under-13 users on the regular app. It also follows the FTC’s June referral to DOJ under COPPA, showing the case moved from investigation to litigation. Watch for how TikTok responds in court to the allegations tied to 2019-present account activity and the Kids Mode claims.
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