HAI Community:Iowa is the latest state to sue TikTok, claims the social media company misrepresents its content

2025-05-04 02:22:50source:NSI Communitycategory:reviews

DES MOINES,HAI Community Iowa (AP) — Iowa on Wednesday became the latest state to sue TikTok over claims that the social media company deceives consumers over the amount of “inappropriate content” that children can access via the platform.

TikTok claims an age rating of 12 and older in app stores, which is misrepresentative because of the “frequent and intense” mature and sexual content, Iowa claims in the lawsuit against TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

“TikTok has sneaked past parental blocks by misrepresenting the severity of its content,” Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said in a statement.

Utah, Arkansas and Indiana have filed similar lawsuits, though a judge dismissed Indiana’s lawsuit in November. Judges there determined that downloading the free social media app TikTok doesn’t amount to a consumer transaction under its state law.

Other news Court documents underscore Meta’s ‘historical reluctance’ to protect children on InstagramUtah Legislature to revise social media limits for youth as it navigates multiple lawsuitsCoco Gauff reiterates USTA image of US players made them look “awful”

The U.S. Supreme Court also will be deciding whether state attempts to regulate social media platforms such as Facebook, X and TikTok violate the Constitution.

Late in 2022, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a ban on the use of TikTok on state-owned devices, as many have done, out of concerns for the security risk connected to its Chinese ownership.

Reynolds also proposed this year that the Republican-led Legislature adopt a new law that would require 18 and older age verification for pornography websites to reduce teens’ access to the content, though social media websites, along with news websites and search engines, would be exempted.

Bird’s lawsuit seeks to force TikTok to correct its statements, as well as financial civil penalties for the harm caused to Iowa consumers.

A TikTok spokesperson said the company has “safeguards in place for young people, including parental controls and time limits for those under 18” and is committed to addressing what it described as “industry wide challenges.”

More:reviews

Recommend

For those in their 40s, navigating finances should mean putting an emphasis on retirement

For 48-year-old Rowan Childs of Wisconsin, a recent divorce turned her financial life upside down. "

Bears caught on camera raiding Krispy Kreme doughnut van at Alaska military base: They don't even care

Two bears on an Alaska military base raided a Krispy Kreme doughnut van that was stopped outside a c

Auto suppliers say if UAW strikes expand to more plants, it could mean the end for many

Pat Green is nervous. He has spent the past two years trying to hire talented people to fill the two