Newly unsealed court documents from Utah shed light on disturbing allegations against TikTok, claiming the platform knowingly enabled child exploitation through its livestreaming feature. The lawsuit, filed by Utah’s Division of Consumer Protection, accuses TikTok Live of connecting minors with adult predators, facilitating grooming, and profiting from virtual gifts exchanged during these interactions. Internal investigations, such as the 2022 “Project Meramec,” reportedly revealed that underage users routinely bypassed the platform’s age restrictions.
The lawsuit extends beyond exploitation claims, citing instances of criminal activity on TikTok Live, including money laundering and financing of terrorism. TikTok has denied the allegations, asserting that the lawsuit mischaracterizes its safety measures and underestimates its commitment to user protection.
The legal battle comes at a precarious time for TikTok, as the platform faces a potential U.S. ban scheduled for January 19 unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests ownership. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on January 10 regarding a potential delay of the ban, which stems from national security concerns outlined in legislation signed by President Joe Biden last April.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes has described the unredacted allegations as “shocking,” arguing that TikTok’s actions prioritize profits over the safety of children. The lawsuit underscores a broader issue facing social media platforms: the struggle to reconcile growth and engagement with safety and ethical responsibility. As the legal and regulatory landscape for platforms like TikTok intensifies, this case could have far-reaching implications for the future of online accountability and governance.
