A Texas judge on Thursday ruled that TikTok deceived consumers about its content moderation practices for minors, a decision that moves the state's lawsuit against the social media platform closer to trial.
In her ruling, Texas District Judge Cory Liu found that TikTok's public claims about filtering inappropriate content violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The state had argued that TikTok failed to remove videos containing sexually suggestive material, graphic content, or promotions of gambling and drugs, despite its community guidelines prohibiting such posts.
Court filings revealed that TikTok's internal moderation policies directed employees to label certain violating content as “hard to find” rather than “do not allow,” allowing it to remain on the platform. The state also alleged that TikTok's “Restricted Mode” for minors did not work as advertised, with internal communications acknowledging that users were exposed to a high volume of content that should have been filtered out.
Judge Liu determined that the state had met the burden for summary judgment on both allegations, denying TikTok's motion to dismiss and setting the stage for a full trial. The trial is expected to begin next month, unless a settlement is reached beforehand. If it proceeds, it would mark the first trial focused on TikTok's safety claims.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, praised the ruling, stating that TikTok “sacrificed the safety and innocence of children for engagement and numbers, and now they are being held accountable.” TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.
This case is part of a broader wave of legal scrutiny against social media companies over their impact on minors. Earlier this year, Meta faced landmark verdicts over its platforms' effects on teen mental health. Last month, Meta reached a settlement with nearly every U.S. state, agreeing to pay over $17 billion and implement platform changes. Texas was not part of that settlement but later announced a separate agreement with Meta, bringing the total to just over $18 billion.
In announcing its settlement, Meta publicly challenged rivals, including TikTok and YouTube, to adopt what it called a “new standard” for child safety online. Meta argued that its new measures would only be effective if other companies followed suit, applying pressure on competitors. TikTok has remained silent, offering no public response to Meta's letter.
The Texas trial will test whether TikTok's internal practices align with its public assurances, and could set a precedent for how platforms are held accountable for their moderation systems. As the case moves forward, observers will be watching whether TikTok chooses to settle or face a courtroom battle that could expose internal decision-making.
