FTC Urged to Investigate TikTok for Alleged Child Privacy Violations

Bipartisan Congressional panel requests FTC probe into TikTok's use of pop-up messages targeting children amid concerns over legal compliance.

House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party calls for FTC investigation into TikTok's compliance with child privacy laws.
Allegations focus on TikTok's use of pop-up messages urging children to lobby against a U.S. ban, potentially violating COPPA and FTC Act.
Incidents of misleading messages reportedly led to at least one child threatening self-harm, intensifying scrutiny on TikTok's practices.
TikTok defends its actions, asserting that messages were sent only to users aged 18 and older, with options to dismiss the notifications.
The controversy arises as President Biden signs legislation demanding ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a potential ban within a year.