A new lawsuit filed by Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes is accusing TikTok of enabling the sexual exploitation of children through its livestreaming feature. TikTok Live allows users to broadcast live videos, interact with viewers, and receive monetary “gifts” in the form of emojis. Despite the platform’s policy of not allowing users under 18 to host livestreams, the lawsuit alleges that children may be coerced by adults to engage in inappropriate acts on camera in exchange for payments from other users. The lawsuit also claims that TikTok lacks sufficient age verification measures to ensure the safety of underage users.
The complaint, filed in Utah district court, states that TikTok has been aware of issues with transactional sexual content during live sessions involving children since before December 2023. Despite this knowledge, TikTok has allegedly not taken adequate steps to address the problem. In response to the allegations, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the platform has industry-leading policies to protect the safety of teens, including age requirements for going live and follower thresholds. The platform immediately revokes access to features for accounts that do not meet these requirements.
This is the second lawsuit filed by Utah’s attorney general against TikTok for allegedly putting children at risk. Last year, Utah accused the app of harming the mental health of young users, echoing similar claims made by other states and cities. TikTok has denied these allegations and highlighted its tools, such as automatic time limits, to support young users. The new lawsuit comes as TikTok faces a potential ban in the United States after President Joe Biden signed a law requiring the app to be sold to a new company or face removal from US app stores. TikTok has filed a lawsuit to challenge the law, citing First Amendment concerns.
The new Utah lawsuit alleges that TikTok has allowed the misuse of its live feature to continue despite being aware of the issue. An investigator in September 2022 reportedly found underage girls engaging in sexually suggestive content on live streams in exchange for money. The lawsuit also claims that children may be manipulated into sending monetary gifts to other users on the live feature, with the promise of likes, shout outs, goods, or interactions from hosts. Utah’s attorney general is seeking a jury trial for the case, which remains heavily redacted.
Overall, the lawsuit raises concerns about TikTok’s handling of child safety on its platform, particularly regarding its livestreaming feature. Despite the platform’s policies, the lawsuit alleges that TikTok has not done enough to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and ensure a safe environment for young users. As the legal battle continues, the outcome could have significant implications for TikTok’s operations in the US and its reputation among users concerned about child safety and online exploitation.
