US Attorneys General Sue TikTok Over Alleged Harm to Children’s Mental Health

Lawsuits Filed Against TikTok

Fourteen US attorneys general have filed lawsuits against the popular video-sharing app TikTok, accusing it of harming children’s mental health and collecting their data without consent.

Allegations of Harm to Children’s Mental Health

The lawsuits, filed individually by the attorneys general of California, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington state, and Washington, D.C., claim that TikTok’s addictive autoplay feature and “dangerous” challenges are harming the mental health of young users.

TikTok’s Response

An unnamed TikTok spokesperson has dismissed the allegations as unfounded and strongly disagreed with the claims. The company has consistently denied concerns that it may be sharing user data with the Chinese government or spreading propaganda.

Background on the Lawsuits

Last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TikTok for allegedly violating the state’s privacy laws for minors. The new lawsuits are led by officials from New York and California and accuse TikTok of violating state laws by falsely claiming that its services are safe for young people.

State Laws Violated

The attorneys general believe that TikTok violated state laws by falsely claiming that its services are safe for young people. They also point to the “addictive” autoplay of videos and the “dangerous” TikTok “challenges” as evidence of the harm caused to children’s mental health.

Conclusion

The lawsuits filed against TikTok are a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of the app by US authorities. The allegations of harm to children’s mental health and the collection of data without consent are serious concerns that will likely be closely watched by the public and the tech industry.

FAQs

Q: Why are the attorneys general suing TikTok?

A: The attorneys general are suing TikTok because they believe the app is harming children’s mental health and collecting their data without consent.

Q: What are the specific allegations against TikTok?

A: The lawsuits claim that TikTok’s addictive autoplay feature and “dangerous” challenges are harming the mental health of young users, and that the app is collecting their data without consent.

Q: Has TikTok responded to the allegations?

A: Yes, an unnamed TikTok spokesperson has dismissed the allegations as unfounded and strongly disagreed with the claims.

Q: What is the next step in the lawsuits?

A: The lawsuits will likely proceed through the court system, with the attorneys general seeking to prove their allegations against TikTok.