Paxton suing TikTok, referencing SCOPE Act violations

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he had filed a lawsuit against the social media company TikTok.

The lawsuit claimed the platform was operating "in a manner that puts the online safety and privacy of Texas children at risk and violates the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act."

Paxton said the SCOPE Act prohibits digital service providers from sharing, disclosing or selling a minor’s personal identifying information without permission from a parent or legal guardian, as well as providing parents with ways to manage and control the settings of the child’s account.

"TikTok has failed to comply with these requirements," Paxton said.

The law is currently facing a legal challenge from plaintiffs Computer & Communications Industry Association and Netchoice, LLC. A judge in that case issued a preliminary injunction, blocking Paxton from enforcing the some of the law's requirements against those plaintiffs.

Paxton's lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and injunctive relief to prevent future violations of the SCOPE Act by TikTok.

"I will continue to hold TikTok and other Big Tech companies accountable for exploiting Texas children and failing to prioritize minors’ online safety and privacy," Paxton said. "Texas law requires social media companies to take steps to protect kids online and requires them to provide parents with tools to do the same."