TikTok is fighting wars on multiple fronts. Not only is she engaged in the fight for her life with the federal government as she awaits her day in front of the Supreme Court next week, but she also has a Utah attorney general. Bloomberg TikTok has obtained a redacted copy of a lawsuit filed by the state’s lead attorney general that claims TikTok knew its live streaming feature was a breeding ground for all kinds of illicit content and harmful behavior, including child grooming.
The lawsuit reveals two internal investigations launched by TikTok into activity on its live platform. The first, Project Meramec, found underage users performing sexual acts on live streams, in exchange for virtual gifts given to them by viewers.
At the time of the investigation, TikTok’s policy prohibited users 16 or younger from live streaming, and also prohibited users under 18 from sending or receiving virtual gifts that could be redeemed for money. However, implementing this was not enough: the company’s internal review found that 112,000 underage users hosted live streams during a single month in 2022. Furthermore, the company found that its algorithm was promoting sexual content, so it will likely be recommended With these minors. For viewers. There’s no real reason to question why this happens: TikTok gets a cut of every virtual gift purchased. Users who get more gifts also generate more revenue for TikTok.
The second internal investigation, dubbed Project Jupiter, looked into money laundering operations carried out using TikTok’s live streaming service. This investigation found that some criminal operations were using TikTok Live to move money, while others were selling drugs and illegal services in exchange for virtual gifts. Internal communications among TikTok employees showed conversations about how Live could be used to fund terrorist organizations like ISIS.
TikTok’s investigation into underage users came after Investigation published by Forbes magazine Which found numerous examples of older male users luring young women into performing sexual acts on TikTok Live in exchange for gifts. This is “the digital equivalent of going down the street to a strip club full of 15-year-old girls,” Leah Plunkett, associate dean at Harvard Law School, told Forbes.
This isn’t the first time TikTok’s lack of moderation, especially regarding content involving minors, has put the company in a difficult position. Back in 2022, the US Department of Homeland Security I launched an investigation In TikTok’s handling of child sexual abuse material. Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice announced File a lawsuit against the company For violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, alleging that the company intentionally allowed underage users to create accounts and interact with adults on the platform.
TikTok isn’t the only social platform with a child predation problem. Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Meta was having problems Remove pedophiles from Facebook and Instagram and that its algorithms were active Promote and direct users towards child exploitation content. Twitter is under the supervision of Elon Musk He sacked his moderation team Responsible for monitoring child sexual abuse and saw Networks of child pornography dealers Appear on stage during the activity Unblock booted users To publish child exploitation content.
It’s possible that none of these platforms are actually that good.
https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2191955085.jpg
Source link