Under a law signed by President Joe Biden in April, the company could face a ban in a few months if it doesn't break ties with ByteDance.
WASHINGTON — In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department late Friday accused TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion.
The new court documents represent the government’s first major defense in a consequential legal battle over the future of the popular social media platform, which is used by more than 170 million Americans. Under a law signed by Presidentin April, the company could face a ban in a few months if it doesn’t break ties with ByteDance.
The concern, the Justice Department said, is more than theoretical, alleging that TikTok and ByteDance employees are known to engage in a practice called “heating” in which certain videos are promoted in order to receive a certain number of views. While this capability enables TikTok to curate popular content and disseminate it more widely, U.S. officials posit it can also be used for nefarious purposes.
In the redacted version of the court documents, the Justice Department said another tool triggered the suppression of content based on the use of certain words. Certain policies of the tool applied to ByteDance users in China, where the company operates a similar app called Douyin that follows Beijing’s strict censorship rules.
Social Media Tiktok Tech Justice Department
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boeing Takes Plea Deal To Avoid Criminal Trial Over 737 Max CrashesThe Justice Department says Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge.
Read more »
U.S. Justice Department pushes for Boeing to plead guilty in connection with fatal crashes, sources sayThe plea deal would require Boeing to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in connection with the fatal crashes, sources say
Read more »
Justice Department to Charge Boeing, Seeks Guilty Plea from PlanemakerThe US Justice Department has told Boeing Co. that it will charge the planemaker with fraud, leaving the company to choose between pleading guilty or taking the risk of going to trial, according to people familiar with the matter.
Read more »
Justice Department charges nearly 200 people in $2.7 billion health care fraud schemes crackdownWASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 200 people have been charged in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on health care fraud schemes with false claims topping $2.7 billion, the Justice Department said on Thursday.
Read more »
Justice Department charges nearly 200 people in $2.7 billion health care fraud schemes crackdownWASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 200 people have been charged in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on health care fraud schemes with false claims topping $2.7 billion,...
Read more »
Justice Department charges nearly 200 people in $2.7 billion health care fraud schemes crackdownU.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday, that nearly 200 people have been charged in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on health care fraud...
Read more »