Amidst escalating regulatory scrutiny, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has escalated its investigation into TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by ByteDance. The FTC announced on Tuesday that it has formally referred a complaint to the Justice Department, alleging potential violations of children’s privacy laws.
This development stems from longstanding concerns over TikTok’s data security practices, which were initially brought to light in 2020. Despite a previous agreement in 2019 aimed at safeguarding children’s privacy, allegations persist that TikTok has not adequately adhered to these standards.
“The investigation has revealed grounds to believe that the defendants have violated or are on the verge of violating the law, necessitating action in the public interest,” stated the FTC in a public statement, highlighting the seriousness of the matter.
In response, TikTok expressed disappointment over the FTC’s approach, asserting their ongoing efforts to collaborate with the agency to address concerns. “We strongly contest the FTC’s allegations, which in many instances pertain to historical issues that have either been resolved or are factually incorrect,” TikTok emphasized.
This latest legal challenge adds to TikTok’s existing woes, as it continues to battle legislative efforts mandating the divestiture of its U.S. operations by ByteDance, its Chinese parent company. These moves come amid broader concerns in Congress about potential data vulnerabilities linked to TikTok’s vast American user base, although TikTok has consistently refuted allegations of data mishandling.
As the regulatory landscape evolves, TikTok faces a pivotal juncture with potentially far-reaching implications for its operations in the United States.
