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Friday, November 8, 2024

Ken Paxton sues TikTok over alleged violations of child privacy laws in Texas

State AG
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Attorney General Ken Paxton | Ballotpedia

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the social media giant has violated the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act. The lawsuit claims that TikTok's operations endanger the privacy and safety of children in Texas by not adhering to state laws requiring parental consent for sharing minors' personal data.

Attorney General Paxton emphasized his commitment to holding technology companies accountable. "I will continue to hold TikTok and other Big Tech companies accountable for exploiting Texas children and failing to prioritize minors’ online safety and privacy," he stated. He further stressed the obligations of social media platforms under Texas law: "Texas law requires social media companies to take steps to protect kids online and requires them to provide parents with tools to do the same. TikTok and other social media companies cannot ignore their duties under Texas law."

The SCOPE Act mandates that digital service providers, like TikTok, must not share or sell a minor’s personal information without explicit parental consent. Additionally, it obligates these companies to offer parents mechanisms for managing their children's account settings and privacy controls. According to Paxton, TikTok has not met these legal requirements.

In response, Attorney General Paxton is pursuing civil penalties amounting up to $10,000 per violation alongside seeking injunctive relief aimed at preventing any future breaches of the SCOPE Act by TikTok.

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