TikTok is embroiled in yet another legal battle, this time in Utah, where the state’s governor, Spencer J. Cox, and attorney general, Sean D. Reyes, have launched a lawsuit with a three-pronged attack against the social media giant. Utah alleges that TikTok engages in illegal practices, baiting children into unhealthy and addictive use of its platform, while also making misleading claims about the app’s safety and falsely presenting itself as an independent entity separate from its China-based parent company, ByteDance.
This lawsuit marks the latest episode in a growing series of legal challenges faced by TikTok in the United States. Previously, Montana had made headlines by being the first state to announce plans to ban the platform, a move that TikTok has been fighting. Now, the state of Utah has joined the fray, bringing its own set of accusations against the social media behemoth.
The state’s legal action is not an isolated incident. Indiana filed a lawsuit against TikTok in December 2022, and Arkansas followed suit in March 2023. TikTok has defended itself, highlighting its industry-leading safeguards for young people, such as a 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls for teen accounts. The company remains committed to addressing concerns and ensuring the safety of its community while navigating a complex and evolving legal landscape.