California, New York, and other states file lawsuits against TikTok to protect children

Thirteen U.S. states, including California and New York, along with the District of Columbia, filed lawsuits on Tuesday against TikTok, accusing the platform of harming and failing to protect young users. These lawsuits, filed separately, expand the legal battle between the Chinese-owned company and U.S. regulators and call for financial penalties against TikTok.

The states claim that TikTok uses addictive software to keep children engaged for extended periods and misrepresents its effectiveness in moderating content. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that TikTok deliberately targets children, exploiting their vulnerability to addiction, while New York Attorney General Letitia James highlighted the app’s contribution to worsening youth mental health.

TikTok, however, denies these allegations, asserting that the platform offers strong safeguards for teens and parents. In contrast, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argued that TikTok’s live-streaming and virtual currency features facilitate harmful exploitation, particularly of underage users. Washington’s lawsuit likened these features to a virtual strip club without age restrictions.

Other states involved in the lawsuits include Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, and others. This follows an earlier investigation initiated in March 2022 by eight states into TikTok’s impact on youth. Meanwhile, TikTok is also facing a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice over privacy concerns and continues to fight legal challenges that could result in a ban of the app in the U.S.