US Appeals Court Revives TikTok Liability Case Over Child's Death

A US appeals court has revived a lawsuit against TikTok filed by the mother of a 10-year-old girl who died attempting a viral 'blackout challenge'. The court ruled that TikTok could be held liable for promoting harmful content via its algorithm. The case has now been sent back for trial.

A US appeals court has breathed new life into a lawsuit against TikTok, brought by the mother of Nylah Anderson, a 10-year-old girl from Pennsylvania who died after attempting a viral 'blackout challenge' she came across on the app.

Federal law usually shields online platforms from being held responsible for user-posted content, but the court found potential liability in TikTok's promotion of the challenge through its algorithm.

"TikTok engages in its own first-party speech by recommending specific content to users," wrote Judge Patty Shwartz from the 3rd US Circuit Court in Philadelphia. The decision partially reverses an earlier ruling, sending the case back for trial.

(With inputs from agencies.)