The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), represented by the Department of Justice, has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, its parent company ByteDance, and affiliated entities for alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The lawsuit claims that TikTok illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without notifying parents or obtaining their consent, in direct violation of COPPA and a 2019 consent order. The complaint highlights systemic failures by TikTok, including the use of backdoors allowing children to bypass age restrictions and continued data collection even after children were directed to TikTok’s Kids Mode.
ByteDance and TikTok allegedly ignored their obligations under COPPA, putting the privacy of millions of children at risk. FTC Chair Lina M. Khan emphasized the seriousness of these violations, noting the FTC’s commitment to protecting children online. The complaint seeks civil penalties against ByteDance and TikTok, with potential fines of up to $51,744 per violation, per day, and aims to impose a permanent injunction to prevent future violations. The lawsuit underscores the ongoing scrutiny of tech companies’ data practices, particularly concerning children’s privacy rights.
