FTC Investigating TikTok for Violating Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, Sources Claim
By Movieguide® Contributor
The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly investigating TikTok for data and security breaches.
CNN reported that anonymous sources claim “the FTC is probing TikTok over an alleged violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection rule, which requires companies to notify parents and obtain consent before collecting data from children under 13.”
The FTC is also looking into whether or not TikTok violated part of the FTC Act that “prohibits ‘unfair or deceptive’ business practices” when the app denied that user data could “be accessed by individuals in China.”
AP News claims the FTC “is nearing the conclusion of its investigation and could settle with TikTok in the coming weeks,” adding that the next step in the process would be for the FTC to refer the case to the Justice Department, which would have 45 days to decide whether or not to pursue it.
“No final decision has been made on whether to bring a case, or what claims to include, the people said,” Politico reported. “It is not clear whether any action against TikTok would also include parent company ByteDance.”
FTC Director of Public Affairs Douglas Farrar declined to comment on the situation, as did a DOJ spokesperson and a TikTok spokesperson.
This isn’t the only legal battle TikTok is facing. Movieguide® previously reported:
The House passed a bill Wednesday morning that could effectively ban TikTok in the United States.
The legislation, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, demands that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, divest the platform. If it doesn’t within 180 days, the app would be banned in American app stores.
CNBC reports that it received bipartisan support, passing with a 352-65 vote.
It will now go to the Senate, where its future is unclear.
“The bill now heads to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future as senators appear divided about the legislation, and other federal and state-led efforts to ban TikTok have stalled,” CNBC reported.
If the legislation passes the Senate, President Joe Biden said he would sign the bill.
If enacted, the bill would require ByteDance to “sell off TikTok if the company wanted the app to remain available in the US.”
