French Families Sue TikTok over Alleged Failure to Remove Harmful Content

A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. (Reuters)
A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. (Reuters)
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French Families Sue TikTok over Alleged Failure to Remove Harmful Content

A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. (Reuters)
A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. (Reuters)

Seven French families have filed a lawsuit against social media giant TikTok, accusing the platform of exposing their adolescent children to harmful content that led to two of them taking their own lives at 15, their lawyer said on Monday.

The lawsuit alleges TikTok's algorithm exposed the seven teenagers to videos promoting suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, lawyer Laure Boutron-Marmion told broadcaster franceinfo.

The families are taking joint legal action in the Créteil judicial court. Boutron-Marmion said it was the first such grouped case in Europe.

"The parents want TikTok's legal liability to be recognized in court", she said, adding: "This is a commercial company offering a product to consumers who are, in addition, minors. They must, therefore, answer for the product's shortcomings."

TikTok, like other social media platforms, has long faced scrutiny over the policing of content on its app.

As with Meta's Facebook and Instagram, it faces hundreds of lawsuits in the US accusing them of enticing and addicting millions of children to their platforms, damaging their mental health.

TikTok could not immediately be reached for comment on the allegations.

The company has previously said it took issues that were linked to children's mental health seriously. CEO Shou Zi Chew this year told US lawmakers the company has invested in measures to protect young people who use the app.



Saudi Arabia to Hold First Drone and AI Exhibition on Monday

Saudi Arabia to Hold First Drone and AI Exhibition on Monday
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Saudi Arabia to Hold First Drone and AI Exhibition on Monday

Saudi Arabia to Hold First Drone and AI Exhibition on Monday

The inaugural Saudi Arabia AI and Drones Exhibition and Forum (SAADEF) will be in Riyadh held on Monday.

Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, it will be held under the theme "Integration of Drones and Artificial Intelligence".

Supported by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the three-day event will showcase the rapid advances in drone and AI applications in the agricultural sector. It will bring together top exhibitors, investors, and global experts.

SAADEF aims to support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by advancing economic diversification and promoting sustainability through innovative technology.

As one of the first exhibitions of its kind in the region, SAADEF represents a milestone in promoting and marketing drone investment in agriculture, further positioning the Kingdom as a regional leader in this high-growth field.