• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has referred a case involving TikTok's alleged violations of children's privacy to the U.S. Justice Department. The case centers around TikTok's failure to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under the age of 13, as required by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The FTC's referral to the Justice Department suggests that the agency believes TikTok's actions warrant criminal prosecution.

• The FTC's investigation into TikTok's practices began in 2020, following concerns that the platform was collecting personal data from children without their parents' knowledge or consent. The agency found that TikTok had failed to take adequate measures to ensure that users were of the appropriate age, allowing children under 13 to create accounts and have their personal information collected. This is a violation of COPPA, which requires companies to obtain parental consent before collecting data from children.

• The referral to the Justice Department marks a significant escalation in the case against TikTok. If the Justice Department decides to pursue criminal charges, it could result in substantial fines and other penalties for the platform. The case highlights the ongoing challenges in protecting children's privacy online and the need for stronger enforcement of existing laws, such as COPPA, to ensure that tech companies are held accountable for their data collection practices.