Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TikTok on Thursday, accusing the platform of violating children’s privacy by sharing their personal information without parental consent.
The lawsuit claims that TikTok failed to comply with the state’s Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, which mandates parental oversight of children’s online data.
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation of the SCOPE Act and an injunction against TikTok. Paxton argued that TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, lacks proper tools to safeguard children’s privacy, even allowing information from private accounts to be shared. He also raised concerns about targeted advertising to minors on the platform.
Paxton emphasized the need to hold TikTok and other tech giants accountable for failing to prioritize children’s safety and privacy online. The lawsuit, filed in Galveston County, is part of his broader effort to protect minors from online exploitation.
TikTok has not yet responded to the allegations, and the company is expected to face significant legal challenges as Texas pursues penalties for the alleged privacy violations.