Utah releases ‘shocking’ previously redacted info in case against TikTok
Jan 3, 2025, 1:40 PM | Updated: Jan 6, 2025, 10:47 am
SALT LAKE CITY — The state of Utah released new details in a high-profile case it filed against TikTok, revealing multiple internal investigations performed by the social media platform. The state argues the investigation provides proof that the company knew children were being sexually exploited on its platform.
“They’ve touted safety features that have been window dressing at best,” said Katie Hass, director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.
In a new filing of the previously redacted complaint, the investigations performed by TikTok were named “Project Meramec,” and “Project Jupiter.” Even though the investigations provided TikTok with information showing there were crimes being committed on the platform, the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection said the company “decided not to stop anything because of the financial profits it was raking in.”
“Project Meramec,” along with “admissions of its employees,” gave details on the TikTok LIVE function that “allows adults to pay young users to strip, pose, and dance provocatively for ‘diamonds,’ which can be cashed out for real money,” the department said.
The second investigation, “Project Jupiter,” concluded that the live stream feature and the virtual currency “enabled criminals to launder money, sell drugs and fund terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.”
An argument that “cherry-picks”
In a statement made through a spokesperson addressing the lawsuit and newly released information, TikTok argued the state’s complaint was misleading:
This lawsuit ignores the number of proactive measures that TikTok has voluntarily implemented to support community safety and well-being. Instead, the complaint cherry-picks misleading quotes and outdated documents and presents them out of context, which distorts our commitment to the safety of our community.
We stand by our efforts, which include: robust safety protections and screen time limits for teen accounts enabled by default, Family Pairing tools for parents to supervise their teens, strict livestreaming requirements, and aggressive enforcement of our Community Guidelines on an ongoing basis.
Further, TikTok provided a list to KSL TV that detailed the safety measures it implemented within LIVE, with underage users, with child sexual abuse material on its platform and with general moderation.
According to the company, creators must be 18 years old before they can go LIVE, and when they do, their account must meet a follower requirement. Viewers must also be 18 years of age to purchase coins or send and receive gifts. TikTok also created “teen accounts” which is for users aged 13 to 17. Teen accounts are automatically set to an hour daily screen time limit.
“In addition, accounts under age 15 do not receive push notifications from 9 p.m., and accounts ages 16-17 have push notifications turned off starting at 10 p.m., which is enabled by default,” the spokesperson said.
Parents of teen accounts can also monitor their child’s screen time and push notifications, TikTok said.
To combat the presence of possible CSAM on its platform, the company also implemented Google’s Content Safety API, among other CSAM identification tools. Google’s API supports “the proactive identification of never-before-seen CSAM imagery so that it can be reviewed, and if confirmed, removed and reported as quickly as possible.”
Overall, TikTok said it removed over 500 million videos that violated its content policies, and the majority were removed before they received a single view.
An approaching deadline
The initial redacted complaint was part of the second lawsuit Utah filed against the platform in June 2024. The first lawsuit dates back to 2023.
The June lawsuit prompted further federal action against the social media platform on its dealings with children. The U.S. Justice Department filed another lawsuit listing Jordan School District as a lead plaintiff. That lawsuit claimed the platform illegally collected data from children.
“TikTok LIVE is essentially, can be used, as a virtual strip club,” Hass said. “Not only are they facilitating it, they’re profiting off of this, they’re taking a cut at every step of these transactions.”
In November, the company attempted to throw out the Utah filings. But all arguments offered by TikTok representatives were denied by a 3rd District Court judge.
“Thanks to Judge Sanchez’s ruling, more of TikTok’s shocking conduct will now be public through this unredacted complaint,” said Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes.
The new information released on Friday comes as the platform faces a crossroads in the U.S. A new federal law requires the platform’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell. That, or be banned in the U.S. altogether. The law gave the company a deadline of Jan. 19 to decide.
However, the Supreme Court said it will hear arguments on Jan. 10 to determine whether or not the law violates the First Amendment.
Contributing: Shara Park, KSL TV
Editor’s Note: This article was updated with additional information after its initial publication date.
