Dec 15 (Reuters) – In a significant development, a state judge has mandated TikTok to comply with the North Carolina Attorney General’s request for records as part of a multistate investigation into potential risks the app poses to young users.
The investigation, initiated by attorneys general since 2022, revealed that TikTok maintained a concealed archive of tens of thousands of internal Zoom meetings, a fact undisclosed by the company for over a year and a half.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein emphasized the importance of TikTok’s compliance with the law, stating, “TikTok does not get to choose which parts of the law it complies with. We’re going full steam ahead in our investigation to protect our kids.”
The court order compels TikTok to furnish a comprehensive list of all Zoom recordings pertinent to the investigation. Despite the directive, a TikTok spokesperson announced the company’s intention to appeal the ruling, reiterating its commitment to industry-leading safeguards for young users.
In October, Utah initiated legal action against TikTok, alleging that the platform intentionally encouraged excessive usage among young users, causing harm. Similar lawsuits were filed earlier by Indiana and Arkansas, each citing concerns about the impact of TikTok’s algorithms and design features on young consumers.
TikTok, boasting over 150 million U.S. users, remains immensely popular among young people. According to Pew Research Center, 67% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 use TikTok, with 16% using the app almost constantly.
Utah’s lawsuit specifically pointed to TikTok’s “highly powerful algorithms and manipulative design features,” likening them to the characteristics of slot machines. Arkansas also targeted both TikTok and Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) in March, alleging the promotion of addictive platforms.
Concerns about online child safety prompted a Senate panel to schedule a hearing on Jan. 31, where the CEOs of TikTok, Meta, X (formerly Twitter), Snap, and Discord will testify on the issue of online child sexual exploitation.
While legislation aimed at providing the Biden administration with new tools to address national security concerns related to foreign-owned apps like TikTok has faced delays, the ongoing scrutiny underscores the growing importance of regulating platforms that impact the well-being of young users.
Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Bill Berkrot. The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
