TikTok accused of profiting from illegal child sexual exploitation videos

TikTok has been accused of profiting from illegal child sexual exploitation videos posted on its platform. The allegations were made by former and current employees, who say that the company failed to properly respond to internal reports … more…. Apple announces special event for October 28: ‘Pro and tell’ Chance Miller Oct 19 2026.

The company is facing hundreds of lawsuits over its record on safety. Employees warned TikTok about child exploitation, court documents show.

News Social Media Employees warned TikTok about child exploitation, court documents show The company is facing hundreds of lawsuits over its record on safety. According to depositions detailed by NPR, multiple employees repeatedly flagged serious flaws in the company’s handling of child safety, including child exploitation, but were "frustrated" with TikTok’s response.

The records are drawn from ongoing lawsuits the company is facing related to its handling of child safety. TikTok is the target of hundreds of such lawsuits, though it has settled some cases, including those making claims the app was designed to be be addictive.

According to statements made by company employees, TikTok executives were notified that teens were regularly appearing in live streams in the app, which raised concerns about potential grooming and exploitation. After Forbes published an article in 2022 about teens stripping in TikTok Live videos in which viewers could pay for in-app "gifts," a safety employee said the company knew about such content.

Employees also warned that the company was making "significant revenue" from live video content involving children even though TikTok’s rules barred minors from appearing in them. Other employees also flagged shortcomings in the company’s parental controls and age-based safety features.