The Federal Trade Commission could resolve its investigation into Chinese-owned short video app TikTok over allegedly faulty privacy and data security practices by either filing suit or reaching a settlement in the approaching weeks, a source told Reuters.
Politico earlier reported the potential FTC motion on Tuesday citing individuals with direct knowledge of the matter. The FTC and TikTok declined to comment. The Justice Department didn’t immediately comment.
Reuters in 2020 reported the FTC and the Justice Department were looking into allegations the favored social media app didn’t live as much as a 2019 agreement aimed toward protecting children’s privacy.
The FTC and the Justice Department were looking into allegations the favored social media app didn’t live as much as a 2019 agreement aimed toward protecting children’s privacy. REUTERS
The probe is separate from ongoing concerns in Congress concerning the potential that the info of TikTok’s 170 million US users may very well be improperly accessed by the Chinese government. TikTok denies the allegation and says it has robust data security provisions.
Earlier in March, the House overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill giving ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, about six months to sell the US assets of the app or face a ban, citing national security concerns.
Senators are still undecided on the best way to proceed.
The probe is separate from ongoing concerns in Congress concerning the potential that the info of TikTok’s 170 million US users may very well be improperly accessed by the Chinese government. AP
The White House had said the Senate should take “swift motion,” and President Biden said he would sign the bill.
In 2021, ByteDance agreed to a $92 million class-action settlement to settle data privacy claims from some US TikTok users.
