Utah is taking legal action against TikTok, alleging that the app's addictive features harm children and accusing it of misleading users about its relationship with ByteDance, its Chinese parent company. This lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of legal actions and bans in the United States aimed at addressing TikTok's popularity, often due to concerns related to national security.
In a press release, Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that TikTok misleads parents by presenting the app as safe for children while luring them into addictive and potentially unhealthy usage patterns, primarily to generate more advertising revenue.
The lawsuit contends that TikTok violates the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (UCSPA) by intentionally making the app addictive for children and profiting from it. It also accuses TikTok of misrepresentation regarding the safety of the app and fairness of its policies, as well as falsely claiming to be based in the United States when it is controlled by ByteDance in China.
Allegations:
Similar legal challenges have emerged in various states across the U.S. Indiana raised similar allegations against TikTok in a lawsuit last year, while a Maryland school district sued TikTok and other tech giants for their perceived contribution to a "mental health crisis" among students in June. Montana implemented a TikTok ban in May, which TikTok is now contesting in court.
In addition to addressing TikTok's practices, Utah has passed a law this year mandating parental consent for children to use social media. This legislation is part of a broader trend of increasing censorship measures in the United States.
Utah's Division of Consumer Protection's lawsuit seeks a jury trial and requests that the judge issue an injunction, either temporarily or permanently, against TikTok for violating the UCSPA. It also seeks compensation for legal fees, restitution, damages exceeding $300,000, and an additional $300,000 in civil penalties.
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