The Justice Department has filed a legal complaint against TikTok, alleging that the popular social media platform has violated a key child privacy law. The complaint accuses TikTok of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from minors without their parents’ consent.
COPPA was enacted in 1998 to protect children’s online privacy and requires websites and online services to obtain parental consent before collecting data from children under the age of 13. According to the complaint, TikTok failed to obtain this consent and knowingly collected personal information such as names, email addresses, and locations from underage users.
The Justice Department’s filing is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by TikTok as the popular app comes under increasing scrutiny for its data collection and privacy practices. In addition to the COPPA violation, TikTok is also facing concerns over its ties to the Chinese government and the potential for user data to be shared with foreign entities.
TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has denied any wrongdoing and says it takes privacy and security seriously. The company has stated that it is cooperating with regulators and is committed to protecting its users’ privacy.
The legal filing by the Justice Department underscores the growing concerns about the protection of children’s online privacy and the need for stricter enforcement of COPPA regulations. As TikTok continues to face legal challenges and scrutiny over its data practices, it remains to be seen how the company will respond and what impact this will have on its large user base.
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