Justice Department Accuses TikTok of Collecting User Data on Sensitive Issues

The Justice Department has accused TikTok of collecting bulk information on users’ views regarding sensitive social issues such as gun control, abortion, and religion. The allegation is part of a legal battle concerning the popular social media platform, which could face a ban in the U.S. if it does not sever ties with its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.

According to a brief filed to the federal appeals court in Washington, TikTok and ByteDance used an internal system called Lark to enable communication between TikTok employees and ByteDance engineers in China. This system allowed the transfer of sensitive U.S. user data to Chinese servers, accessible to ByteDance employees.

One of Lark’s tools allegedly permitted employees to gather information on users’ content and expressions on controversial topics. Reports indicate that TikTok tracked users who watched LGBTQ content via a dashboard that has since been deleted.

The court documents mark the government’s first significant defense in the case, stressing the potential risk of “covert content manipulation” by the Chinese government. The Justice Department warned that China could manipulate the algorithm to influence public opinion and exacerbate social divisions in the U.S.

TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek countered the claims, asserting that the ban would violate the First Amendment by silencing 170 million Americans and arguing that the government has not provided concrete proof of its allegations.

The Justice Department also highlighted concerns about TikTok’s Project Texas, a $1.5 billion initiative to store U.S. user data on Oracle-managed servers, questioning its effectiveness in mitigating national security risks.

Oral arguments in this pivotal case are scheduled for September.