Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the social media company of sharing and selling minors’ personal information in violation of a new state law aimed at protecting children online. The Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act prohibits companies from sharing a minor’s personal information without parental consent and requires tools for parents to monitor their child’s account.
Paxton alleges that TikTok has not complied with these requirements, and unlawfully shares minors’ information with third parties. TikTok denies these allegations, stating that they offer safeguards for teens and parents, including the ability for parents to request their teen’s account to be deleted with verification.
The lawsuit comes after a federal court judge temporarily blocked part of the social media law, which has faced challenges from tech industry groups and free speech advocates. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has introduced new parental control features in response to the law.
Paxton’s office is seeking civil penalties of $10,000 per violation, as well as attorney’s fees. Texas is among several states that have passed laws regulating social media companies, sparking criticism from the tech industry and free speech groups. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing debate over online safety and privacy for minors in the digital age.
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