Florida files lawsuit against TikTok over minors’ access to the platform

The Florida attorney general has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing it of violating the state’s law on protecting children in the digital environment. This is reported by Reuters.

The lawsuit was filed in St. Lucie County Court. Attorney General James Uthmeier claims that the platform allows children under 14 to create accounts, despite the current ban, and also allegedly misleads parents about the level of risk of the content.

According to the prosecutor, the company “knowingly misleads parents and allows children to access harmful content,” which, in his opinion, is a violation of Florida law.

The prosecution is seeking a court order that would oblige TikTok to bring its activities into compliance with the requirements of the law, and also provides for the possibility of financial penalties.

The company said that it has already interacted with the attorney general’s office and has begun notifying users under 14 in Florida about the upcoming suspension of their accounts. TikTok also said it was prepared to defend its actions in court and stressed the safety mechanisms it has in place for underage users.

The Florida lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits against TikTok in the United States. In total, the platform is named in lawsuits from more than 25 state attorneys general, who accuse the company of promoting addiction in children and negatively affecting the mental health of adolescents.

The Florida law HB 3, which is cited in the lawsuit, prohibits the use of social networks by children under 14 and requires parental consent for users under 16. It took effect in 2025.