Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2019
Children’s privacy allegations involving Musical.ly and TikTok
The United States Federal Trade Commission settled allegations that Musical.ly collected personal information from children without the required parental consent. Because Musical.ly had been acquired and integrated into TikTok, the matter became an early child-privacy issue for the TikTok brand.
2019
Missouri attorney general announces investigation into TikTok
Investigation
In 2019, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced an investigation into TikTok. According to the announcement, the investigation was opened to examine whether the company is putting children at risk. The announcement did not specify further findings, outcomes, or additional allegations beyond the stated focus of the inquiry.
Stated objective. To see if the company is putting children at risk.
Source excerpt
Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway announces investigation into TikTok’s impact on children
2019
TikTok parent ByteDance reaches proposed settlement in children’s data lawsuit
Settlement
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, reached a proposed $1.1 million settlement with parents who alleged that the company collected and exposed minors’ personal data in violation of children’s privacy law. A TikTok spokesperson said the company disputed many of the complaint’s claims. The report says the settlement was reached on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.
Company response
Denial — TikTok
The company, however, responded that allegations of illegal data collection brought against them were false.
Source excerpt
The plaintiff’s lawyer in the case, Gary Klinger, confirmed to The Verge that a proposed settlement of $1.1 million had been reached.
In a statement, a TikTok spokesperson said that the company disputed many of the complaint’s claims, but had reached a “resolution.”
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, reached a settlement on Wednesday with a group of parents who alleged that the company collected and exposed the data and personal information of minors, in violation of the children’s privacy law.
2019
TikTok apologized for briefly removing a Xinjiang video
Company response
TikTok admitted that it had temporarily removed a viral video condemning Beijing's crackdown in Xinjiang, attributed the removal to a human moderation error, and apologized to the user who posted it.
Company response
Apology — TikTok
We would like to apologize to the user for the error on our part.
Apology — TikTok
“We would like to apologize to the user for the error on our part,” TikTok said.
Clarification — TikTok
TikTok said Wednesday it wanted to “clarify” and apologize for human error in removing the video.
Remediation — TikTok
The video was set live again 50 minutes later after a senior moderation team member noticed the error
Source excerpt
"We would like to apologize to the user for the error on our part."
But on Wednesday the company admitted having temporarily removed the video "due to a human moderation error".
The company said the video was restored around 50 minutes later after "a senior member of our moderation team identified the error and reinstated it immediately."