The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking TikTok to court, alleging the platform violated child privacy laws by allowing kids under 13 to create accounts without parental consent and collecting extensive data on them. This lawsuit, filed under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), accuses TikTok of using flawed age-gating methods and failing to comply with previous privacy requirements.

Key points:

- Allegations: TikTok allegedly let kids use the app through “Kids Mode” without proper parental consent, collecting personal data like device IDs and IP addresses.

- Deficiencies: The DOJ claims TikTok’s age verification was inadequate, and the platform’s record-keeping on COPPA compliance was lacking.

- Penalties: If the court finds TikTok in violation, the company could face civil penalties of up to $51,744 per violation, per day.

TikTok disputes these claims, stating that they have taken significant steps to safeguard children, including age-appropriate experiences and enhanced privacy features.

Stay tuned as this legal battle unfolds!