TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit

A person familiar with the matter says the Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices. The source says the FTC has been looking into whether TikTok violated a portion of federal law that prohibits “unfair and deceptive” business practices by denying individuals in China had access to U.S. user data. The agency is also scrutinizing the company over potential violations of a children's privacy law. The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for TikTok. The social media company is already fighting against a federal bill that could ban the platform in the U.S. if it doesn’t break ties with its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.