FTC Refers TikTok, ByteDance Complaint to DOJ Over Child Privacy Violations on June 18

Jun 18, 2024, 08:56 PM

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has referred a complaint against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on June 18. The FTC's investigation found reason to believe that TikTok may be violating or is about to violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the FTC Act. The referral to the DOJ's Civil Division underscores the seriousness of the potential violations related to children's online privacy. This action follows a previous settlement in 2019, where TikTok paid $5.7 million over similar issues. The FTC stated that pursuing this case is in the public interest.