New York sues TikTok over secret safety tests on teenage users

New York state authorities have filed legal action against TikTok, claiming the social media platform conducted secretive safety tests on approximately 15 million American users without proper disclosure or consent. The tests, which reportedly began in 2021, involved algorithmic modifications designed to measure user engagement and retention rather than assess potential harms to vulnerable populations.

According to the allegations, TikTok's internal testing included exposure to potentially harmful content for teenage users. The lawsuit references the case of a teenager who died by suicide, suggesting a connection between the platform's algorithmic experimentation and the user's access to dangerous material.

The New York attorney general's office contends that TikTok failed to implement adequate safeguards for minors and deliberately obscured the scope and nature of its algorithmic testing from regulators and the public. The company is accused of prioritising business metrics over user wellbeing and neglecting duty-of-care obligations toward young people.

The legal action represents intensifying scrutiny of TikTok's practices in the United States, where lawmakers and regulators have raised repeated concerns about data privacy, content moderation, and the platform's impact on child mental health. TikTok has previously defended its safety measures, stating it invests significantly in protecting young users from harmful content.