Utah Lawsuit Claims TikTok Profited From Child Exploitation on Livestreams

Unsealed documents reveal TikTok was aware of minors being exploited and criminal activity on its Live platform but failed to act decisively, according to the state of Utah.

• Utah's lawsuit alleges TikTok knowingly allowed and profited from minors performing sexual acts on TikTok Live in exchange for virtual gifts, which the company partially monetized.
• Internal investigations, 'Project Meramec' and 'Project Jupiter,' uncovered widespread underage streaming, money laundering, drug sales, and even links to terrorist funding on the Live platform.
• TikTok's algorithm reportedly boosted livestreams featuring sexualized content, increasing visibility and revenue from virtual gift exchanges.
• The lawsuit claims TikTok delayed implementing safety measures despite identifying risks, with internal documents describing the platform’s environment as dangerous for minors.
• TikTok denies the allegations, citing proactive safety measures and claiming the lawsuit misrepresents outdated and selective information.

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