US sues TikTok over 'massive-scale' privacy violations of kids under 13
(VOVWORLD) - The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit Friday against TikTok and parent company ByteDance for failing to protect children's privacy on the social media app as the Biden administration continues its crackdown on the social media site.
 US flag is placed on a TikTok logo in this illustration taken March 20, 2024. (PHOTO: Reuters)
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The government said TikTok violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act that requires services aimed at children to obtain parental consent to collect personal information from users under age 13.
The Chinese-owned short-video platform boasts around 170 million US users, and is currently fighting a new law that would force ByteDance to divest TikTok's US assets by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
The lawsuit is the latest US action against TikTok and its Chinese parent over fears the company improperly collects vast amounts of data on Americans while influencing content in a way that could harm Americans.
TikTok said Friday it disagrees with these allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed.