Judge Rules TikTok Violated Texas Law on Child Safety Misrepresentation
A U.S. judge ruled that TikTok violated a Texas consumer protection law by misleading users about its child safety features, allowing the state's lawsuit to proceed toward trial. The case stems from allegations made in a 2025 lawsuit under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The state claimed that TikTok misrepresented how it handles content involving drugs, gambling, or graphic injuries—stating such material would be removed but instead labeled as 'hard to find.' Additionally, internal company communications reportedly indicated that its Restricted Mode feature for filtering inappropriate content did not function effectively as advertised. Judge Cory Liu granted the state’s motion for a partial summary judgment on Thursday. The ruling highlights growing legal scrutiny of social media platforms regarding their safety and transparency practices, particularly concerning minors.
