Edited release
03/08/23
Iowa Attorney General Bird joined 46 states in an amicus brief Monday, requesting that TikTok, fully comply with a multistate investigation into whether the China-owned social media company violated consumer protection laws.
The coalition of states is seeking internal TikTok communications to determine if the company has been engaging in unlawful conduct that impacts youth mental health. Research studies have shown that social media platforms, including TikTok, contribute to youth mental health problems and even suicidal thoughts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that almost one-third of teenage girls seriously considered suicide in 2021, a nearly 60% increase from a decade prior.
Attorneys General say despite requests for TikTok’s internal communications, the company repeatedly and knowingly failed to preserve relevant information by allowing employees to continue sending auto-deleting chats through the chat-app Lark.
The AG’s say it’s critical that TikTok provide all relevant internal communications so that the investigation can continue and develop an understanding of whether the company violated any laws.
In a statement, Iowa Attorney General Bird said the coalition of states must evaluate TikTok’s business practices to determine whether it has broken laws and engaged in conduct that hurts youth mental health.