Texas Judge Finds TikTok Liable Over Child Safety Claims

A Texas judge ruled that TikTok violated state consumer protection law by misleading consumers about its efforts to keep inappropriate content away from minors, giving Attorney General Ken Paxton a legal victory in his efforts to hold the platform accountable.

What did the court find?

Travis County District Judge Cory Liu found TikTok liable for misleading consumers about the platform's safety standards for minors. The ruling found that TikTok misrepresented the effectiveness of measures intended to protect children from inappropriate content.

AG Paxton's office said TikTok had claimed it would remove graphic content involving drugs, nudity, alcohol, injuries, and profanity. The state argued that such material remained accessible to minors, including when users had "Restricted Mode" enabled.

How did the case begin?

Paxton sued TikTok in January 2025, alleging the company deceptively marketed its platform as safe for minors while exposing children to inappropriate and explicit material. The attorney general had also previously sued TikTok under Texas' Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment Act over alleged violations involving children's online safety and privacy.

AG Ken Paxton: "TikTok sacrificed the safety and innocence of children for engagement and numbers, and now they are being held accountable."

Paxton said Texas is the first state to hold TikTok liable for misleading parents about its platform's safety and said his office would continue pursuing social media companies over issues involving children's online safety.

What happens next?

The case will proceed to a trial where potential relief and penalties will be determined. The trial is expected to begin next month.