The state of Utah has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, claiming that the platform’s TikTok Live feature is being used to sexually exploit children and teenagers. According to the lawsuit, users on TikTok Live are engaging in inappropriate acts in exchange for virtual gifts that can be converted into real money. The complaint, which is heavily-redacted, alleges that TikTok’s in-app virtual economy has fostered a culture of exploitation and illegal activity.
TikTok is facing an uncertain future in the United States following national security concerns that have prompted President Joe Biden to sign a law that will ban the app unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells it to an American owner. The platform has been under scrutiny for its potential dangers to children, with concerns about child privacy violations and the presence of child sexual abuse material on the app. The Forbes investigation sheds light on how TikTok Live is being used to entice young girls into engaging in suggestive and potentially illegal shows for adult men.
The lawsuit details disturbing instances on TikTok Live where minors were offered money to perform explicit acts in front of thousands of viewers. Viewers can purchase digital gifts on TikTok Live and send them to the hosts of the livestreams, which can be converted into real money by the recipient. Many of the gifts were found to be sent by adults to minors, enabling predators to groom targets for online or offline sexual abuse. The Utah Attorney General’s office has brought the suit to stop TikTok’s exploitation of youth and alleged that the platform is not registered with federal financial crime enforcement agencies.
TikTok has responded to the allegations by stating that creators must be at least 18 years old before they can go live on the platform, and their account must meet certain follower requirements. The platform claims to have industry-leading policies and measures in place to protect the safety and well-being of teenagers. However, the Utah complaint alleges that these age restrictions are ineffective and that many underage users still participate in TikTok Live events daily. The state also claims that TikTok’s public statements about its measures to protect teens do not align with internal documents reviewed by the AG’s office.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has expressed deep concern over the allegations against TikTok Live, calling them disturbing. The state has previously sued TikTok over its addictive algorithm and features aimed at maximizing user engagement, and is part of a group of state attorneys general investigating the platform’s alleged harms to underage users. The lawsuit against TikTok comes at a time when the platform is facing increased scrutiny over its handling of children’s safety issues on social media.
