Utah Unveils Fresh Proof in TikTok Legal Dispute
In a shocking turn of events, TikTok has been accused of monetizing the exploitation of children through its TikTok Live feature. The allegations were revealed in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on August 19, 2025.
The lawsuit claims that TikTok knowingly created and operated a highly addictive platform with predatory features, including TikTok Live, which facilitated financial and sexual exploitation of children. The company is alleged to have used “unlicensed virtual currencies” in TikTok Live to profit from the exploitation of young users.
The lawsuit further alleges that TikTok misled users and parents about safety, engaged in coercive design features to extend use, and profited from virtual currency-based gifts on TikTok Live, thus creating conditions that have led to documented instances of exploitation. The investigation also highlighted the harms to children’s mental health related to TikTok's addictive algorithm and features.
TikTok has responded by stating that the lawsuit contains misleading and inaccurate claims and emphasized the robust safety measures they have implemented. The social media giant has implemented safety measures such as robust safety protections, screen time limits for teen accounts, and parental monitoring tools.
However, the lawsuit alleges that TikTok uses its monetization features to incentivize children to perform sexually explicit acts on TikTok Live. Some adults are said to have paid TikTok Live users with an in-app currency called diamonds, which can be exchanged for real-world money, to strip, pose, and dance.
The state of Utah has also joined the fray, filing a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of monetizing the exploitation of underage children on TikTok Live. Utah claims that TikTok has refused to ensure accurate bookkeeping, real-time suspicious payment monitoring, timely reporting processes to law enforcement, KYC verification for all users, and processes to keep banned users off the platform.
TikTok's own studies concluded that TikTok Live facilitated the exploitation of live hosts, and an internal investigation, Project Meramec, found that underage users who bypassed age verification for TikTok Live sometimes received provocative messages from much older users.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes stated that it is outrageous and unconscionable for TikTok to monetize the exploitation of children on TikTok Live, knowing the danger and understanding the damage. The lawsuit was filed weeks ahead of a scheduled nationwide ban on TikTok, adding to the platform's woes.
Sources: [1] Minnesota Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against TikTok Over Child Exploitation Concerns. (2025, August 19). Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/19/minnesota-attorney-general-files-lawsuit-against-tiktok-over-child-exploitation-concerns.html
[2] TikTok Accused of Profiting from Child Exploitation on Live. (2025, August 19). Retrieved from https://www.techcrunch.com/2025/08/19/tiktok-accused-of-profiting-from-child-exploitation-on-live/
[3] TikTok Denies Minnesota's Child Exploitation Allegations. (2025, August 20). Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-denies-minnesotas-child-exploitation-allegations-11661299580
[4] Utah Sues TikTok Over Child Exploitation Concerns. (2025, August 21). Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/utah-sues-tiktok-over-child-exploitation-concerns-rcna68433
- Despite TikTok's assertions that they have implemented safety measures, the general-news sources suggest that the social-media platform is under scrutiny for allegedly monetizing the exploitation of children through its TikTok Live feature, with both Minnesota and Utah filing lawsuits to this effect.
- The ethical controversy surrounding TikTok deepens as crime-and-justice allegations rise, with the platform accused not only of monetizing the exploitation of children but also of failing to monitor suspicious payments, ensure age verification, maintain accurate bookkeeping, and prevent banned users from rejoining the platform. This comes at a time when entertainment and technology companies are increasingly held accountable for the social impact of their products.
