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TikTok faces a landmark state court trial in Montgomery, Alabama, on Monday, marking the first time a US jury will hear claims against the popular platform over child safety.
The state accuses TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, of violating Alabama’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act by misleading parents about the strength of its parental controls and age ratings.
The trial stems from an undercover investigation in which Alabama authorities created accounts posing as teenagers aged 13 to 15 with “Restricted Mode” enabled.
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Despite TikTok’s claims that the safety feature blocks mature content, investigators reported that the app quickly served these accounts videos involving suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, alcohol, and sexual themes.
The state also claims the platform falsely marketed itself on app stores as safe for children aged 12 and older.
While TikTok previously settled similar lawsuits in California and Kentucky, this trial threatens to expose internal company communications and executive testimony to public scrutiny.
TikTok argues that it prioritises teen safety and contends that federal law under Section 230 protects the platform from liability for user-posted content.
Alabama seeks civil penalties, financial damages, and a court order requiring TikTok to reform its safety practices.
