March of 2027 Could Finally See TikTok in the Dock

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Arkansas’ lawsuit against social media giant TikTok could go to trial in March of next year, according to an amended court scheduling order filed earlier this month.

With an estimated billion users worldwide — including approximately 135 million in the U.S. — TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms on the planet. Its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, has been valued at $300 billion.

But for years, TikTok has been under scrutiny for struggling to protect private user data from entities in China such as the Chinese Communist Party. The platform has also been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” online.

In 2023, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued TikTok, calling it “a Chinese ‘Trojan Horse’ unleashed on unsuspecting American consumers,” and highlighting how TikTok’s algorithm “force-feeds” objectionable content to users — including “illegal drug use, sex, violence, and self-harm.”

Griffin’s team says that TikTok deceptively labeled its app as being appropriate for ages 13 and up when it really should have been rated 17+.

The lawsuit argues that TikTok violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and that TikTok should be held liable in court.

It’s taken three and a half years to reach this point, but Arkansas’ lawsuit against TikTok could go to trial March 15-29 of 2027, under a scheduling order filed on September 3.

That’s assuming TikTok doesn’t decide to settle its consumer protection lawsuits the same way Facebook has.

Last month, social media company Meta — which owns Facebook and Instagram — agreed to settle a long list of lawsuits over teen social media addiction for a total of up to $17.1 billion. That settlement resolved a lawsuit Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed in 2023.

The lawsuits against Meta were similar to lawsuits TikTok faces in court. TikTok has been under pressure to follow Meta’s lead, but so far the company has refused to do so.

Family Council is not aware of any attorney general in America who is doing more to fight for children online and hold tech companies accountable than Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Besides Meta and TikTok, Griffin’s office has also taken social media company Snap to court. His team has defended laws designed to keep kids safe online, and has fought to protect Arkansans’ private data.

Tech companies are more than just phone apps and websites. These are multibillion-dollar businesses. The people who profit from them have a responsibility to protect the users on their platforms.

We appreciate Arkansas Attorney General Griffin’s office for continuing to pursue court cases like the TikTok lawsuit.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Pennsylvania Attorney General Files Lawsuit Similar to Arkansas’ Against TikTok

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Earlier this month, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a lawsuit against social media giant TikTok. Sunday’s lawsuit is similar to a pair of consumer protection lawsuits Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed in 2023.

The Pennsylvania lawsuit alleges TikTok lies about how much harmful content appears on its platform — including sexual content, nudity, profanity, and drug use. Pennsylvania argues that underreporting helps the TikTok app maintain a 13+ age rating in app store instead of being rated 17+.

The lawsuit also alleges that the TikTok app is addictive by design, because TikTok profits from ad revenue as users spend more time scrolling on its platform.

“TikTok has built its empire based on a model of addictiveness at all costs, and expanded that empire using deception about what sort of content is viewable for kids,” Attorney General Sunday said in a statement. “This is not an indictment against modern technology, or a scolding assessment of social media as a whole — rather, this is an action to hold accountable a company that values dollars over mental wellness.”

Pennsylvania’s lawsuit against TikTok is very similar to a pair of consumer protection lawsuits Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed in 2023.

Attorney General Griffin’s legal complaints call the TikTok app “a Chinese ‘Trojan Horse’ unleashed on unsuspecting American consumers,” and highlight how TikTok fails to protect private user data.

His office argues that TikTok’s algorithm “force-feeds” objectionable content to users — including “illegal drug use, sex, violence, and self-harm.”

The A.G.’s team says that TikTok deceptively labeled its app as being appropriate for ages 13 and up when it really should have been rated 17+.

Attorney General Griffin’s office is still actively pursuing both lawsuits in Arkansas court.

TikTok has an estimated one billion users worldwide — including upwards of 135 million in the U.S. — making it one of the most popular social media platforms on the planet. Its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, has been valued at $300 billion.

But a growing body of evidence shows that social media platforms like TikTok may deliberately addict users, promote objectionable content, and put people’s personal information at risk.

Time and again, TikTok has come under fire for failing to protect private user data from entities like the Chinese Communist Party.

The social media giant has also been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” online.

Social media platforms are more than just phone apps or websites. These are multibillion-dollar businesses, and the adults who profit from them need to be held accountable when they harm innocent people — especially teens.

Children deserve proactive protection online. If tech companies won’t protect children, then voters and policymakers must.

Family Council is not aware of any attorney general in America who is doing more to hold social media giants accountable and protect children online than Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. It’s good to see other state leaders like Attorney General Dave Sunday standing up for kids as well.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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