New York accuses TikTok of giving some users fake safety tools
The lawsuit says the company told users they had protection features when those tools did not work as described.
New York has unsealed an updated lawsuit alleging that TikTok tested safety tools on some users by giving them nonworking or limited versions, which matters because the features were meant to help people reduce harmful recommendations. The complaint says thousands of users, including children and teens, were told they had access to tools such as Algo Refresh even though their feeds did not actually change. It also says TikTok described Algo Refresh as a permanent reset when the feature was only temporary. TikTok said it regularly tests new products and features to understand them in real-world use, and the suit says an internal product manager objected that a placebo group conflicted with the goal of transparency and control.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about how TikTok explains and tests features meant to give people more control over what they see. It directly affects thousands of users, including children and teens, because the complaint says they were shown safety tools that were limited or nonworking, and that one reset feature was temporary even though it was described as permanent. The dispute now turns on whether that kind of testing fits the promise of transparency and control.
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Sources
- The Verge