Utah Reveals Fresh Proof in TikTok Legal Dispute
In a shocking turn of events, the state of Utah has filed a lawsuit against the popular social media platform TikTok. The lawsuit accuses TikTok of monetizing the exploitation of underage users, particularly through its live streaming feature, TikTokLive.
The lawsuit alleges that TikTok intentionally promotes addictive content targeting minors, exposing them to harmful or sexually exploitative content. This includes risks of grooming and sextortion. The lawsuit further claims that TikTok has failed to implement adequate safeguards, such as effective age verification, content moderation, and parental controls.
The lawsuit is not an isolated incident. State attorneys general from California, New York, Texas, and other states have also filed similar lawsuits against TikTok and other social media companies, alleging harm to children’s mental health and violations of consumer protection and privacy laws.
The lawsuit highlights concrete instances of abuse, with criminal cases involving individuals exploiting minors using TikTokLive or related social media features. For example, a TikTok influencer was charged with child exploitation after allegedly exposing herself to minors while streaming.
In response to these allegations, TikTok has denied the accusations, claiming that the lawsuit distorts its commitment to the safety of its community. However, the lawsuit also alleges that TikTok's in-app currency has been used for money laundering and other illegal operations. In 2023, TikTok compliance teams reported identifying major money laundering criminal patterns on the TikTok live platform.
The lawsuit further alleges that TikTok has not implemented Know Your Customer (KYC) verification for all users, has not implemented real-time suspicious payment monitoring for fraud and money laundering, and has not ensured accurate bookkeeping. It also claims that TikTok has not implemented processes to keep banned users off the platform or to report suspicious transactions to law enforcement in a timely manner.
TikTok's internal investigation, Project Meramec, found that underage users who bypassed age verification for TikTok Live sometimes received provocative messages from much older users. Some adults were also reported to have paid TikTok Live users for stripping, posing, and dancing using an in-app currency that can be exchanged for real-world money.
The lawsuit was filed in June of 2024, weeks ahead of a scheduled nationwide ban on TikTok. The state's allegations were revealed on Friday. This is not the first time TikTok has faced scrutiny, with the app coming under increasing regulatory and legal challenges since late 2024 and into 2025.
The actions represent attempts by government and victims to hold TikTok accountable and force reforms aimed at preventing abuse and monetization of exploitation. The lawsuit is a significant step in this direction, and it will be interesting to see how TikTok responds to these allegations.
- The state's lawsuit against TikTok isn't limited to the entertainment domain; it also encompasses allegations of crime-and-justice concerns, such as money laundering and child exploitation, which have been discovered within general-news headlines.
- As the legal battles against TikTok continue, the implications extend beyond the realm of social-media, reaching into areas like technology, entertainment, and even crime, as the platform's failure to address issues of underage exploitation and money laundering has led to wider social and ethical concerns.
