Shocking court documents from a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Attorney General’s office have uncovered allegations that TikTok, the wildly popular social media platform, has been profiting from sexual streams involving children for years. These documents, accidentally exposed due to a redaction error, suggest that TikTok knew about the exploitative practices but did little to stop them, prioritizing revenue over the safety of its youngest users.
The lawsuit, launched in October 2024 by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, claims TikTok violated consumer protection laws by targeting and addicting youth, particularly through its live-streaming feature, TikTok Live. Internal company documents reveal that an investigation, “Project Meramec,” sparked by a 2022 Forbes article, identified nearly 400,000 TikTok Live creators aged 16 to 17. Many of these underage users were allegedly performing sexualized acts in exchange for digital currency—virtual “gifts” that could be converted into real cash. TikTok is accused of taking a commission from these transactions, effectively profiting from the exploitation.
The bombshell documents surfaced after a clerical mistake in the court filing left roughly 30 pages of confidential TikTok communications unredacted. Among the findings were alarming statistics: a 35.71% failure rate in moderating content that normalized pedophilia and a 50% failure rate for content glorifying minor sexual assault. These numbers paint a grim picture of TikTok’s content moderation struggles.
TikTok Live lets users stream live videos to their followers, who can purchase and send digital “gifts” as support. Creators can cash out these gifts, but TikTok takes a cut of the earnings. According to the lawsuit, this system became a breeding ground for abuse, with adults allegedly sending gifts to underage creators in exchange for sexual content. Kentucky’s legal filing argues that TikTok’s business model incentivized this exploitation by pocketing a percentage of the profits.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman didn’t mince words:
“These documents show a disturbing pattern of TikTok prioritizing profits over the safety of its youngest users.”
Kentucky isn’t alone in pointing the finger at TikTok. States like Utah, Washington, D.C., and others have filed similar lawsuits, alleging the platform has failed to protect minors. Utah’s lawsuit mirrors Kentucky’s claims, asserting that TikTok Live enabled adults to solicit sexual content from young users while the company reaped financial rewards. The mounting legal challenges signal a growing reckoning for the social media giant.
TikTok has firmly denied the allegations, insisting it has “robust safeguards” to protect its community, especially children. In a statement, the company said,
“We strongly disagree with these claims based on inaccurate and misleading information. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our community, especially young users.”
Despite these assurances, the lawsuits cast doubt on the effectiveness of TikTok’s protective measures.
These legal battles are far from over. As the cases unfold, TikTok could face hefty fines and be forced to overhaul its safety protocols if found liable. The revelations have already triggered widespread public outrage and renewed calls for tighter regulation of social media platforms to shield kids from harm.
For more details, check out the Kentucky Public Radio report on the lawsuit’s origins or Reuters’ coverage of the ongoing fallout.
