Do you know what else TikTok is gaining besides fame? Here’s a hint – it’s not something that normal people would normally intentionally seek out. Okay, we’ll spill – TikTok’s facing yet another legal obstacle in the US, this time, with the state of Indiana filing a lawsuit that accuses the app and its parent company of violating its consumer protection laws, particularly in failing to safeguard the privacy of younger users. 

As per the BBC:

“Indiana filed two lawsuits on Wednesday. The first one claims the app exposes young users to inappropriate content. In the other complaint, [Indiana] also alleges TikTok does not disclose the Chinese government’s potential to access sensitive consumer information.” 

Can’t Catch A Break,

Court documents cite TikTok as being ‘A Wolf in Sheep’s clothing’, with the suit allegedly saying that TikTok ‘ deceives and misleads’ users about the risks to their data, while also ‘flashing’ young users with inappropriate content. TikTok has faced similar challenges around the world and has even gotten banned in certain nations because of the notion that it spreads harmful content. Recent reports about harmful challenges periodically sprouting on the app don’t help TikTok’s case at all. A Bloomberg investigation highlighted at least 10 cases of underaged users dying after trying to do trends like ‘The Blackout Challenge’.

We haven’t even tackled the broader concerns around TikTok’s data privacy processes, which has it constantly under CFIUS investigation, as US politicians continue to debate the would-be fate of the Chinese-owned app in the US. Still, it seems like a significant is needed if they plan to ban TikTok outright in the US. Though still somewhat unlikely, it does remain a possibility, especially since various high-profile security officials are also sounding the alarm. The stakes have never been higher for TikTok.

Last month, FBI Director Chris Wray stated that, for him, TikTok poses a threat to national security, voicing the same concerns as FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who say that they’re something quite pervasive about TikTok’s data gathering processes. 

In its defense, TikTok rebutted by saying that it remains confident that it’ll be able to address all US concerns around data privacy via its new deal with Oracle to store all US user info in the US. However, while TikTok might have been able to stay afloat in the US, it says that European data could still be accessed by China-based staff, keeping tensions high. 

The Wrap

Not sure how banning a social app just because it’s owned by a Chinese company would veer into political territory, but it’s believed that such an action might lead to higher tensions between the two superpowers. Or it might not. It all depends as things change rather quickly on Social Media. This adds to the many considerations you have to note if you still mean to focus on TikTok in 2023. Take caution because TikTok’s fame is also one of its major detriments.

Sources 

https://bit.ly/3YgcB4w