Utah Files Lawsuit Against TikTok, Alleges Platform Misled Users About Safety

The state of Utah has filed a lawsuit against the social media platform TikTok, alleging that it has misled its citizens about its relationship with its Chinese parent company and deceptively touted its platform as safe.

The social media site has already faced similar lawsuits from Arkansas and Indiana. Montana has moved forward with banning the app.

The action among states legally challenging TikTok stands in contrast to stagnation in Washington, where proposed legislation that could lead to a ban of the app has stalled following a wave of bipartisan momentum, CNBC News reported.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox cited research about social media’s effect on youth, which included a recent report published by the U.S. Surgeon General.

“Social media companies must be held responsible for the harms they are causing,” Cox said.

In the complaint filed in state court, Attorney General Sean Reyes alleges TikTok violated Utah’s consumer protection laws in three ways: By deploying and marketing “an addictive product with design features intended to manipulate children,” by misrepresenting the safety of the app and deceptively claiming it “can effectively maintain a safe digital environment for children,” and by misleading consumers about the degree of its relationship with China-based parent company ByteDance.

TikTok’s ownership by a China-based company has been the main focus of many government officials regarding concerns about the company. The outlet reported that Chinese law could force companies based there to hand over internal information if the government cites national security concerns.

The other elements of the lawsuit point out people’s concerns about many social media platforms, not just TikTok.

The lawsuit also mentions features used on the app, such as TikTok’s vertical swipe to load new videos, which the suit compares to a slot machine that keeps users coming back for a dopamine rush.

Utah has been particularly active in seeking to protect its citizens from what it sees as the harmful effects of social media. Earlier this year, Cox endorsed two bills that would implement sweeping new restrictions aiming to protect kids online. For example, they would restrict the hours minors can access social media platforms, require age verification to maintain an account, and give parents a way to access their kids’ accounts, including private messages.