In re TikTok, Inc., Minor Privacy Litigation

Summary

The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the centralization of six actions alleging that TikTok entities violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and related regulations through the collection and use of minors' personal information. The Panel ordered transfer to the Central District of California for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings and assigned the actions to Judge George H. Wu. The proceeding was designated In re TikTok, Inc., Minor Privacy Litigation, MDL No. 3144.

Holdings

1. The actions involve common questions of fact concerning TikTok's age verification, data-collection and data-use practices, parental-data requests, moderation policies, and compliance with COPPA and related requirements; centralization would promote convenience and the just and efficient conduct of the litigation.
2. The actions should not be included in MDL No. 3047 because that MDL is principally defined by addiction-related allegations involving major social-media platforms, while the actions before the Panel contain no addiction-related contentions.
3. The Central District of California is the most appropriate transferee district for the litigation.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the six actions involve common questions of fact warranting centralization under 28 U.S.C. § 1407.
2. Whether the actions should be included in MDL No. 3047 concerning social-media adolescent addiction and personal-injury products-liability claims.
3. Which federal district should serve as the transferee district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.

Disposition

other