TikTok sued by US states over ‘addictive’ features as Chinese apps’ legal troubles mount

More than a dozen U.S. states sued TikTok on Tuesday, claiming the app’s features are designed to trick and addict users. The lawsuit comes as the ByteDance-owned social media company seeks to avoid a possible ban in the US after federal lawmakers, concerned about its Chinese ownership and national security concerns, voted to force its sale or to ban completely.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified in January at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on child sexual exploitation, where lawmakers repeatedly asked him about the Chinese state’s influence on the app and criticized its safety children on the platform.

The new complaint alleges TikTok has “manipulative design features” that are “good for business” but that “enable other serious harm to minors, including sexual exploitation.” TikTok responded to X saying it “strongly disagrees” with the allegations and had attempted to work with state lawmakers to address their concerns.