Key facts
- TikTok misled users about how it filtered content for minors, a Texas judge ruled.
- The company's "Restricted Mode" did not work as advertised, according to the ruling.
- TikTok internally classified some content as "hard to find" rather than "do not allow."
- The ruling found TikTok violated Texas's consumer protection law.
- The case will proceed to trial next month to determine penalties.
A Texas judge ruled on Thursday that TikTok violated the state's consumer protection law by misleading users about its content filtering for minors and the effectiveness of its "Restricted Mode" feature. The ruling, made by Judge Cory Liu, found that TikTok told users it would remove content violating its Community Guidelines but internally classified some of that material as "hard to find" rather than "do not allow," allowing it to remain on the platform. Liu also stated that "Restricted Mode" did not work as advertised and exposed minors to content the company claimed would be filtered out.