Iowa Joins Other States in Suing TikTok Over Alleged Deception Regarding Inappropriate Content

DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa has officially joined the growing list of states that are suing popular social media platform TikTok over allegations of deceiving consumers about the amount of "inappropriate content" that children can access through the app. The state claims that TikTok's age rating of 12 and older in app stores is misleading, as the platform contains "frequent and intense" mature and sexual content. The lawsuit has been filed against TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird stated, "TikTok has sneaked past parental blocks by misrepresenting the severity of its content." The state of Iowa is not alone in its concerns, as Utah, Arkansas, and Indiana have also filed similar lawsuits against the social media giant. However, it is worth noting that Indiana's lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in November. The judge ruled that downloading TikTok, a free social media app, does not constitute a consumer transaction under the state law.

The issue of state regulation of social media platforms has gained significant attention, and the U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide whether such attempts by states, including those targeting Facebook, X, and TikTok, violate the Constitution.

In late 2022, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds took action to ban the use of TikTok on state-owned devices, citing concerns about the security risks associated with the platform's Chinese ownership. Governor Reynolds has also proposed a new law that would require age verification of 18 and older for pornography websites, with exemptions for social media platforms, news websites, and search engines. The aim is to reduce teenagers' access to explicit content.

Attorney General Bird's lawsuit against TikTok seeks to compel the company to correct its statements and impose financial civil penalties for the harm caused to Iowa consumers. In response, a TikTok spokesperson emphasized that the company has implemented safeguards for young people, including parental controls and time limits for users under 18. The spokesperson also expressed TikTok's commitment to addressing the "industry-wide challenges" it faces.

As the legal battle between TikTok and several states continues, the outcome of these lawsuits will likely have significant implications for the regulation of social media platforms and the protection of young users across the United States.