FTC Refers Complaint Against TikTok to Justice Department for Possible Child Privacy Violations

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken a significant step in its ongoing battle against TikTok, referring a complaint against the popular video sharing app to the Justice Department. The complaint, which also names TikTok’s Chinese parent company Bytedance, alleges that the app may be violating child privacy laws.

This latest development comes after an investigation launched following a 2019 settlement in which the FTC accused TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly, of improperly collecting child users’ personal data. As part of the settlement, TikTok agreed to pay $5.7 million and take actions to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a law dating back to 1998.

FTC chair Lina Khan stated that the follow-up investigation had found reason to believe that TikTok is violating or about to violate COPPA and other federal laws. The public announcement of the referral is considered atypical, but the FTC believes it is in the public interest to do so.

TikTok responded by saying that it had been working with the FTC for over a year to address concerns and was disappointed that the agency chose to pursue litigation instead of continuing to work towards a solution. The company strongly disagrees with the allegations and remains committed to protecting children on its platform.

This complaint comes on the heels of US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calling for new restrictions on social media to address a mental health crisis among young people. TikTok, with its large user base in the US, is also facing a possible ban as part of legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April.

The company has filed a lawsuit challenging the ban’s constitutionality, while also facing civil suits alleging inadequate protection of minors on the platform. The future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain as these legal battles continue to unfold.