Iowa has joined the list of states suing TikTok, alleging that the popular social media platform misleads consumers about the amount of inappropriate content accessible to children. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday.

The lawsuit against TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, filed by Iowa claims that the app’s age rating of 12 and older in app stores is misleading due to the presence of “frequent and intense” mature and sexual content.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird stated that TikTok has found a way to bypass parental restrictions by downplaying the seriousness of its content.

Lawsuits have been filed by Utah, Arkansas, and Indiana for the same issue. However, a judge dismissed Indiana’s lawsuit in November after ruling that downloading the social media app TikTok for free does not qualify as a consumer transaction under the state’s law.

The U.S. Supreme Court will also determine if state efforts to control social media platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok go against the Constitution.

In late 2022, the governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, prohibited the use of TikTok on devices owned by the state due to concerns about its Chinese ownership posing a security threat.

This year, Reynolds suggested that the Republican-controlled Legislature pass a new legislation mandating age verification for individuals 18 and older on pornographic websites. This is intended to limit teens’ ability to access such content, although social media, news sites, and search engines would not be affected.

The lawsuit filed by Bird aims to compel TikTok to rectify its claims and pay monetary fines for the negative impact on consumers in Iowa.

A representative from TikTok stated that the company has implemented measures to protect young users, such as parental controls and time restrictions for those under 18. The company also expressed its dedication to addressing the challenges faced by the industry as a whole.

Source: wral.com