Kentucky attorney general’s lawsuit against TikTok to proceed

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced Monday that a Scott County judge has denied TikTok’s motion to dismiss the Commonwealth’s lawsuit against the platform.

According to a release by Coleman’s office, this action clears a “major” hurdle, moving the case closer to trial.

The attorney general’s office states the court ruled the company’s design choices, marketing representations and commercial conduct were directed at Kentucky residents subject to the court’s jurisdiction. The court additionally rejected TikTok’s other arguments for dismissal, holding that the Commonwealth had presented “sufficient facts to show TikTok intentionally designed its platform to exploit developmental vulnerabilities in young users, failed to address the easy accessibility to child sexual abuse material and content moderation and safety features were misrepresented by company executives.”

“We’ve alleged for two years that TikTok built an addiction machine, targeting our children. This ruling is a critical victory in our fight to hold TikTok accountable and protect Kentucky’s young people,” Coleman said.

In 2024, the release states Coleman filed a lawsuit against the online platform and its affiliated entities for their exploitation of Kentucky’s young residents.

The attorney general’s office says by addicting young online users to spend countless hours on the platform, TikTok “can target them with an endless stream of ads and collect a hefty profit.”

In 2022, TikTok reportedly had almost 100 million monthly users in the United States and “generated an estimated $9.4 million in revenue,” according to the release.

The release further states that, according to the lawsuit, TikTok “engaged in predatory behavior to suck in minors, leading to depression, altered development, lack of sleep and more.”

Coleman’s lawsuit is separate from the federal matter over TikTok’s ownership, the release states.

You can read the judge’s ruling here.