TikTok and ByteDance Facing FTC Lawsuit for Violating Children's Privacy Law
In a recent development, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department have filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This law mandates digital platforms to inform and obtain parental consent before collecting personal data from children under 13.
According to the FTC, TikTok and ByteDance were aware of their obligations under COPPA but still allowed millions of children under 13 on their platform. Even after settling with the FTC in 2019 for similar violations, TikTok allegedly continued to maintain accounts of underage users and collect their data for targeted advertising.
The FTC also highlighted issues with TikTok's Kids Mode, which reportedly collected excessive data about users' activities and shared it with third parties without proper consent. Furthermore, when parents requested to delete their child's account, TikTok made it challenging and often failed to comply.
FTC chair Lina Khan condemned TikTok for jeopardizing children's privacy and vowed to protect kids online. TikTok, on the other hand, denies the allegations and claims to have implemented measures to safeguard children's data.
The FTC and Justice Department are seeking civil penalties of up to $51,744 per violation per day and a permanent injunction to prevent future COPPA breaches.
In conclusion, this lawsuit serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting children's privacy online. It is essential for parents to be vigilant about their children's online activities and for companies to adhere to regulations like COPPA to ensure a safe digital environment for minors.