Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed suit against the social media platform TikTok, alleging the app is harming children.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, claims TikTok violated Illinois’ Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, along with the Uniform Deceptive Business Practices Act. Raoul alleged TikTok uses features that are addictive and exploit young and vulnerable users by encouraging them to spend long periods of time on the platform.
“American children and teenagers are in the grip of a devastating mental health crisis,” Raoul said in a news release. “The addictive features on TikTok’s social media platform interfere with sleep and education, and contribute to depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm.”
The suit seeks both injunctive relief “to prevent future violations of the Consumer Fraud Act” and monetary damages, including $50,00 for each “unfair or deceptive act or practice.”
Raoul joined 13 other states in filing separate enforcement actions Tuesday against TikTok. He and other critics of the popular online social media platform have denounced its business model, as well as its impact on children.
Tuesday’s action follows a lawsuit Raoul’s office filed last year against Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta. Raoul’s office also joined a coalition of attorneys general last month to call for the U.S. Surgeon General to put a warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms.
