13 US states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits on Tuesday, alleging that the popular social media platform violates and does n’t protect young users, prompting TikTok to face new legal challenges. The lawsuits, filed differently in New York, California, and 11 different states, increase TikTok’s continued lawful battles with US regulators and get financial penalties, as reported by Reuters news agency.
The states contend that TikTok misrepresents its content-moderation effectiveness by using consciously addictive software to keep kids engaged for an extended period of time. California attorney general Rob Bonta argued that TikTok” cultivates social media addiction to increase business profits.” TikTok consciously targets children because it is aware that children do not yet have the resources or ability to establish healthy boundaries around addicted content.
Attorney General of Washington, Brian Schwalb, claimed that TikTok uses its live streaming and online currency features to operate an unregistered cash transmission business. He said TikTok was “dangerous by design,” with the goal of making young people addicted to their windows.
Additionally, the lawsuit from Washington claimed that TikTok’s live-streaming functions resemble” a digital strip membership with no time restrictions” and that it “facilitated the sexual exploitation of underage customers.”
Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, also expressed concern about the challenges that young people are facing with compulsive programs like TikTok. In reaction, TikTok expressed her strong disagreement with the allegations, calling many of them “inaccurate and misleading,” and deploring that the state preferred dispute over working together to find solutions.
This lawsuit is just one more in a growing number of legal proceedings against TikTok, including a recent US Justice Department complaint alleging the app’s failing to safeguard children’s private.
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