TikTok Faces New Legal Challenges Over Privacy Violations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning that could spell further trouble for TikTok, just months before a potential U.S. ban. On Tuesday, the FTC announced that it has referred a complaint about TikTok to the Department of Justice (DOJ), citing concerns that the app and its parent company, ByteDance, may be in violation of the law.

According to the FTC, its investigation has revealed "reason to believe" that TikTok is violating or is about to violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the FTC Act. While specific details of the alleged violations were not disclosed, the FTC stated that making this information public was deemed to be in the public interest. A DOJ representative confirmed they are reviewing the referral but did not provide further details.

The FTC's investigation into TikTok began in 2019 with its predecessor, Musical.ly. The initial findings indicated that the company knowingly allowed users under the age of 13 to use the platform without proper parental consent, resulting in a $5.7 million fine. It remains unclear if the current complaint is related to the previous issues or if new violations have been uncovered.

TikTok has responded by expressing disappointment with the FTC’s decision to pursue legal action. "We’ve been collaborating with the FTC for over a year to address their concerns. It’s unfortunate that they have chosen litigation instead of continuing discussions for a reasonable solution," a TikTok spokesperson said. "We strongly dispute the FTC’s claims, many of which pertain to outdated practices that have already been rectified. We are committed to protecting children’s privacy and will continue to enhance our platform to ensure their safety."