Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has initiated legal action against TikTok, accusing the platform of exposing children and teenagers to harmful content and engaging in deceptive practices. The lawsuit, filed under the Montana Consumer Protection Act, follows an investigation by the Montana Department of Justice which revealed that TikTok provides "virtually endless amounts of extreme and mature videos" to users as young as thirteen.
Attorney General Knudsen stated, "TikTok must be held accountable for poisoning the minds of children and lying to parents about the videos their children can view on the app." He emphasized his responsibility to hold deceptive entities accountable in Montana.
The lawsuit claims that TikTok violates state law protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce. It seeks a permanent injunction requiring TikTok to halt its misleading statements and practices.
Concerns were raised about TikTok's age ratings on platforms like Apple's App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Stores. The app reportedly downplays its mature content despite evidence showing otherwise. For instance, it maintains a "12+" age rating while offering access to adult-themed material such as explicit videos and drug-related advice.
The design features of TikTok are also under scrutiny for contributing to addiction among young users. Features like "effects" may negatively impact body image among young women. Additionally, functions such as TikTok Live have been linked to dangerous behaviors like binge drinking.
TikTok's parental control features are alleged to be ineffective. Despite claims that Restricted Mode limits inappropriate content visibility, investigations found it inadequate even when enabled for 13-year-olds.
Knudsen highlighted these issues in his lawsuit: “Parents need to know the limits of these so-called 'safety' features before they decide whether, and how, to permit their children to use TikTok."