Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, joining more than 20 states that accuse the platform of using design features that are harmful to young users.
Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the action Tuesday, saying the case is focused on consumer protection rather than free speech. “This is about deception, manipulation, misrepresentation,” Ellison said. “This is about a company knowing the dangers and the dangerous effects of its product, but making and taking no steps to mitigate those harms or inform users of the risks.”
The lawsuit, filed in state court, alleges violations of Minnesota’s consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices laws. It builds on a wave of similar lawsuits brought last year after a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok’s impact on youth mental health.
Ellison said Minnesota conducted its review before filing its case. At the news conference, Sean Padden, a middle-school health teacher in Roseville, said he has seen a connection between heavy TikTok use and an increase in student issues such as anxiety, depression, anger, and shorter attention spans.
The legal action comes as federal discussions about TikTok’s ownership continue. The app is owned by Chinese parent company ByteDance and has faced scrutiny over data security concerns involving its 170 million U.S. users. While some U.S. officials have called for a ban or a shift to American ownership, TikTok has maintained a large following, including among political figures.
TikTok denied the allegations outlined in Minnesota’s complaint. “This lawsuit is based on misleading and inaccurate claims that fail to recognize the robust safety measures TikTok has voluntarily implemented to support the well-being of our community,” company spokesperson Nathaniel Brown said. He noted that teen accounts have more than 50 safety features and that the platform offers parents tools to monitor and limit usage, including screen time controls, content filters, and privacy settings.
The state is seeking a court declaration that TikTok’s practices are unlawful under Minnesota law, a permanent injunction against those practices, and civil penalties of up to $25,000 per instance in which a Minnesota child accessed TikTok. Ellison said the potential penalties could amount to a significant total, given that “hundreds of thousands” of children in the state use the app.
Ellison emphasized that Minnesota is not attempting to ban TikTok outright but wants changes to how it operates. “There are legitimate uses of products like TikTok. But like all things, they have to be used properly and safely,” he said.
Minnesota’s action mirrors lawsuits against other major platforms. Several states have filed cases against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over similar allegations of addictive design. Other companies, including Snapchat and Roblox, are also facing lawsuits concerning potential harm to young users.
