MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announce on Tuesday say di state don file lawsuit against TikTok and im parent company, ByteDance. Di lawsuit claim say di company dey exploit children, make dem addicted to harmful content, and dey lie about di safety of im platform.
Di lawsuit wey dem file for Montgomery County Circuit Court aim to hold TikTok accountable for wetin dem call ‘fueling mental health crisis among Alabama’s youth.’ Marshall talk say, “Today we join concerned parents across our state to stand up for Alabama’s children. TikTok preys on young people, feeding dem dangerous and damaging content while lying to parents about how safe di app really be.”
Di Attorney General continue say, “Dis platform was designed to addict kids and put profits ahead of di mental health of an entire generation. TikTok’s so-called ‘safety features’ are a joke. Dem be marketing ploy to trick parents into trusting a product wey TikTok sabi say e dangerous. Alabama families deserve di truth, and we go make sure dem get am.”
Di lawsuit allege say di app’s algorithm dey engineered to keep children scrolling endlessly while exposing dem to content wey promote depression, eating disorders, self-harm, and drug use, as well as dangerous viral challenges. E also claim say di safety measures like ‘Kids Mode’ and ‘Restricted Mode’ no too dey effective and easy to bypass, leaving children vulnerable to exploitation.
Marshall yan say, “Over one-third of di daily users in di United States na fourteen years old or younger. TikTok’s capture of di American youth market no be accident but na di result of carefully executed campaign.” Di release go on to highlight say TikTok na property of ByteDance, wey be Chinese corporation wey don dey face scrutiny from di U.S. government for alleged data privacy issues.
“We cannot ignore di giant problem with dis platform: TikTok dey owned by di Chinese corporation ByteDance, wey dey mine sensitive American data from di People’s Republic of China, where corporations get legal obligation to share data with Chinese national intelligence services,” Marshall talk. E add say, “TikTok and ByteDance dey commit espionage against Americans’ personal information, and dey exploit our children especially.”
Di state dey seek civil penalties under Alabama’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, alongside compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive relief to make sure say di company stop di misleading practices about youth safety. Di full complaint wey di state file dey available for public reading.
