TikTok’s Hidden Dangers: AI and Children’s Safety

The United States DOJ sued TikTok for allegedly violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. The lawsuit highlights TikTok’s failure to delete children’s accounts and personal information despite parental requests. This case comes amid concerns over AI facial recognition technology used for age verification, which raises privacy risks and the possibility of misuse of their image and information. Critics warn that this technology could normalize surveillance and put children’s data at risk, making them vulnerable to hackers, advertisers, and government overreach.

Editor’s Note: In the Philippines TikTok’s popularity raises alarms. The platform’s collection of personal data, combined with its highly engaging yet often superficial content, has an effect on children’s cognitive development, notably shortening their attention spans and disrupting their ability to focus on more meaningful activities. The risk of online predators exploiting these platforms cannot be understated. With over 73 million internet users in the Philippines, many of whom are children, the dangers posed by TikTok’s methods are particularly pressing. Are we sacrificing our child’s safety and cognitive development for the fleeting entertainment of TikTok?

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