TikTok faces fresh US pressure over child privacy

TikTok is under fresh pressure in the US over potential violations of children's privacy. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has referred a complaint against TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance to the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to concerns about potential law violations. The FTC's investigation focused on potential violations of the FTC Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). COPPA governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by online services about children under 13 years old, while the FTC Act targets unfair or deceptive acts or practices by companies. A TikTok spokesperson expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that the company had been working with the FTC for over a year to address its concerns. They disagreed with the allegations and expressed disappointment that the agency is pursuing litigation instead of continuing to work with them on a reasonable solution. The case is separate from the legislation passed earlier this year to ban TikTok in the US if ByteDance does not sell the business. The company has denied claims that it might share user data with Chinese authorities. The DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on the substance of the referral from the FTC against TikTok, stating that the Justice Department consulted with the FTC in advance of the referral and will continue to do so as they consider the claims. The FTC's announcement adds to the growing pressure faced by TikTok in the US.