Indiana judge dismisses state's lawsuit against TikTok that alleged child safety, privacy concerns
An Indiana county judge has dismissed a state lawsuit filed against TikTok that had accused the app of deceiving its users about the level of inappropriate content for children on its platform and the security of consumers’ personal information
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana county judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state accusing TikTok of deceiving its users about the level of inappropriate content for children on its platform and the security of its consumers' personal information.
A pair of lawsuits filed in December 2022 accused the app of misleading its viewers — particularly children. They alleged the app contains “salacious and inappropriate content” despite the company claiming it is safe for children 13 years and under. In the second complaint, the state argued that the app deceives consumers into believing their sensitive and personal information is secure. The lawsuits have since been consolidated. The latest hearing on the motion to dismiss was held in October.
Judge Jennifer L. DeGroote of the Allen County Superior Court in Fort Wayne made the ruling.
The dismissal is an apparent national first with similar lawsuits pending in Arkansas and Utah.
In a written statement, a spokesperson for Attorney General Todd Rokita said the office is “considering appellate options at this time" and maintained its position taken in the lawsuit.
“We were the first state to file suit against TikTok, but not the last, and it’s reassuring to see others take up this ongoing fight against a foreign Big Tech threat, in any jurisdiction,” the spokesperson said.
In her ruling, DeGroote said the court lacked personal jurisdiction over the case and reaffirmed a previous court ruling that found downloading a free app
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