Is TikTok ethical?

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Corporate conduct Allegation

TikTok is accused of funding terrorist groups

TikTok is accused of using TikTok Live to fund terrorist groups.

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theguardian.com
Another internal investigation showed TikTok Live was used to launder money, sell drugs and fund terrorist groups, according to the lawsuit.
TikTok knew its livestreaming feature allowed child exploitation, state lawsuit alleges | Utah | The Guardian

Corporate conduct Confirmed

TikTok demotes users' videos secretly

TikTok demotes users' videos secretly, a practice known as shadow banning.

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npr.org
It's a practice that has become known as shadow banning, when TikTok quietly demotes someone's videos, and black creators like Doumbia feel like the app is targeting them.

Corporate conduct Confirmed

TikTok sponsors climate deniers

TikTok sponsors climate deniers, contradicting its climate pledges.

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goodmenproject.com
Tiktok’s Climate Pledges Collide With Sponsorship of Climate Deniers - The Good Men Project

Corporate conduct Allegation

TikTok is accused of engineering hooks for young users

Alabama alleges TikTok and ByteDance engineered the app to hook young users like a sophisticated gambling machine.

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theguardian.com
Alabama originally sued TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance in April 2025, alleging the app was engineered to hook young users “just like a sophisticated gambling machine”.

Corporate conduct Settlement

TikTok settles $100 million youth safety claim

TikTok reached a $100 million settlement with Alabama over youth safety issues.

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thehill.com
TikTok reaches $100 million settlement with Alabama over youth safety issues

Corporate conduct Recall

TikTok recalls baby product for suffocation risk

TikTok recalled a baby product due to a documented suffocation hazard.

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pennlive.com
This TikTok Shop baby product is being recalled over a terrifying suffocation hazard - pennlive.com

Corporate conduct Confirmed

TikTok under UK investigation for age check concerns

TikTok faces a UK investigation amid fears over age verification and potential harm to children.

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politico.eu
The watchdog's probe will cover concerns raised in its two reports on children's experiences online and age assurance that age inference models used by TikTok.
theguardian.com
TikTok facing UK investigation amid fears over age checks and harm to children | TikTok | The Guardian

Corporate conduct Allegation

TikTok is accused of deliberately exploiting young people

TikTok is accused of deliberately exploiting young people to induce compulsive, addictive social media use.

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ag.ny.gov
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after New York State Supreme Court Judge Anar Rathod Patel denied TikTok’s motion to dismiss her lawsuit against the company for harming young people’s mental health:
mass.gov
Lawsuit Alleges TikTok Deliberately Exploited Young People to Induce Compulsive, Addictive Social Media Use for

Privacy & surveillance Confirmed

DPC fines TikTok €530 million for data sharing

The Data Protection Commission fined TikTok €530 million for sending user data to China.

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irishtimes.com
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from the Data Protection Commission (DPC) on a point of law arising from the commission’s decision to fine social media giant TikTok €530 million and direct it to stop sending user data to China.

Corporate conduct Confirmed

TikTok introduces comment filters and mass-blocking

TikTok introduced new tools including comment filters and a mass-blocking feature to foster a safe environment for creators.

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washingtonpost.com
Since then, TikTok has introduced new tools — including comment filters and a mass-blocking feature — to try to foster a safe environment for creators.