SALT LAKE CITY—A Third District Court judge has ruled against TikTok Inc.’s motion to dismiss Utah’s lawsuit, allowing the state’s legal action against the social media giant to proceed. The case, filed in June 2024, marks Utah’s second lawsuit against TikTok and accuses the company of knowingly facilitating the sexual exploitation of minors through its TikTok Live feature.
The lawsuit alleges that TikTok allows adult users to pay minors with virtual currency in exchange for inappropriate interactions, with the company taking a percentage of each payment. Utah’s Division of Consumer Protection, under the Department of Commerce, claims this feature creates an environment for exploitation and that TikTok executives were aware of the risks, as revealed through an internal investigation called “Project Meramec.”
“Protecting Utah children from exploitation and the harms that TikTok knowingly inflicts upon them is one of my highest priorities,” said Utah Attorney General Derek Brown in a release. “I am grateful for the court’s decision that allows Utah’s lawsuit against TikTok to move forward, helping us protect young people from sexual exploitation.”
The state’s first lawsuit against TikTok, filed in October 2023, accused the company of intentionally designing an addictive platform aimed at keeping young users engaged to an unhealthy degree. Utah officials have likened the platform’s impact on children to “digital nicotine.”
Margaret Woolley Busse, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, also praised the court’s decision, calling it “a crucial step forward in our battle against TikTok’s egregious practices that target and harm our kids.”
The state is now moving forward with its legal efforts against TikTok, aiming to hold the company accountable for what it calls predatory practices. Both the Utah Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Consumer Protection have committed to continued vigilance in safeguarding children from the alleged dangers posed by the platform.