A new lawsuit was filed in Utah against the popular social media platform TikTok. The complaint alleges the platform serves as a “virtual strip club” and puts underage users at risk. The Utah Division of Consumer Protection claims TikTok profits from “deceptive design features” that facilitate sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and the distribution of pornography.
In a statement, Utah’s Attorney General, Sean Reyes, accused TikTok of knowing the harm it inflicts on young victims but choosing profits over safety. The lawsuit particularly targets LIVE, a feature on TikTok that lets users stream live videos. The platform’s virtual currency system also came under scrutiny. It supposedly enables illicit activities, including adults soliciting sexual acts from minors.
TikTok has defended its policies, stating that users must be 18 or older to use the LIVE feature. The company also claims the feature can be revoked if age requirements are not met. However, the lawsuit disputes these assertions, arguing that TikTok inadequately protects children from accessing the feature. The case cited Charli D’Amelio, a TikTok influencer who frequently live-streamed at 15, despite the minimum age requirement of 16 to host on LIVE.
TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, came under review after President Biden passed a bill mandating the app’s sale or its banning in the United States. The app has faced numerous state and federal lawsuits, alleging mental and physical threats to children users. It has also been accused of being a national security risk, collecting user data, and spreading propaganda.