The Utah Division of Consumer Protection (UDCP) is suing tiktok over accusations that the “addictive nature” of the app harms children and that TikTok deceptively hides its relationship with ByteDance, its parent company in China. He state demand It is the latest in a long and growing series of bans and legal actions by US-based governments and organizations to curb TikTok’s popularity, usually over fears of espionage.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox accused the company of “misleading parents by telling them that its app is safe for children” in a press release announcing the lawsuit today. He said the app “illegally incites children to addictive and unhealthy use” with features that encourage young users to scroll endlessly to earn more advertising money.
The lawsuit alleges that TikTok violates the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (UCSPA) by making the app addictive to children and profiting from it; misrepresent aspects such as the security of its application and the fairness of its policies; and stating that it is based in the US and is not controlled from China by ByteDance.
The UDCP lawsuit demands a jury trial and asks that the judge “preliminary or permanently enjoin” TikTok from violating the UCSPA and order the company to pay the UDCP’s legal fees for the lawsuit, “restitution and very serious damages.” over $300,000,” and another $300,000 in civil penalties.
