Iowa is taking TikTok to court, accusing the platform of misleading parents about the existence of sexual content, drugs, alcohol, profanity, and other inappropriate material on the app.
In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird asserted that TikTok is providing easy access to this kind of content for young users, all while keeping an inaccurate “12+” age rating on the Apple App Store. As mentioned in the lawsuit, a 12-plus rating on the App Store implies that an app contains “infrequent/mild” sexual content, profanity, crude humor, suggestive themes, and references to alcohol, tobacco, or drug use.
But according to Iowa, the content on TikTok’s app doesn’t match this description. The state contends that if TikTok rated it “correctly,” it would warrant a 17-plus label. Iowa also claims that TikTok’s “T” for “Teen” ratings in the Google Play Store and Microsoft Store are also inaccurate.
“TikTok has kept parents in the dark,” Attorney General Bird said in a statement. “It’s time we shine a light on TikTok for exposing young children to graphic materials such as sexual content, self-harm, illegal drug use, and worse. TikTok has sneaked past parental blocks by misrepresenting the severity of its content.”
The state’s investigation uncovered that even users as young as 13 can easily come across recipes for alcoholic drinks, get “advice and encouragement” about using marijuana, access music with profane lyrics, and watch “videos promoting eating disorders, suicide, and self-harm” on TikTok. Moreover, the lawsuit asserts that TikTok’s Restricted Mode, designed to limit content “that may not be appropriate for all audiences,” doesn’t function properly when enabled.
Iowa is aiming for a temporary and lasting order under Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act to prevent TikTok from making deceptive statements about the existence of inappropriate content in its app. They’re also looking for civil penalties, disgorgement, and other fees.
“TikTok has industry leading safeguards in place for young people, including parental controls and time limits for those under 18,” TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek said in an emailed statement to The Verge. “We are committed to tackling industry wide challenges and will continue to prioritize community safety.”