Taking TikTok to Task: A Class Action Lawsuit Inside Berlin's Kammergericht!
TikTok to shell out financial recompense to users
Hey there folks! Gather 'round, 'cause we've got an exciting sweep happening in Berlin's legal scene!
A Dutch foundation, Stichting Onderzoek Marktinformatie (Somi), has hit TikTok, the popular video platform, with a damages lawsuit at the Kammergericht Berlin. The juicy deets are that consumers in Germany can hop on board this class action without breaking a sweat, legal-wise. The already-filed lawsuit against Musk's platform, X, in Berlin back in May was simply a warm-up act for the real showdown.
You might wonder, what's the beef here? Well,Somithinks TikTok's been nabbing and analyzing "deeply personal data" on the sly, in a manner that's not exactly above board. They claim the Chinese company, Bytedance, also crafts comprehensive behavioral and personality profiles to milk this data for advertising and commercial wonders. Adding fuel to the fire, the platform's algorithm is said to crank out a manipulation and dependence system that's a major draw for kids and the youngins.
TikTok hasn’t chimed in with a response yet, but we're on the lookout for that juicy quote!
Here's the Low-Down on Registering Your Claim:
Folks affected by this lawsuit can stake their claim at the Federal Office of Justice to be part of the action. If the lawsuit wins, they won't have to fuss with filing their own individual lawsuits and will receive their due compensation as part of the group action. The court spokeswoman shared the deets.
Somi is demanding compensation for each TikTok user in their lawsuit, and the amount depends on the user's age when they started using the platform. For users under 16, the compensation could reach a cool €2,000, while those aged 16 to 21 might bag €1,000, and those over 21 years can expect €500.
The How-To Guide for Registering Your Claim:
The class action lawsuit by Somi isn't officially announced in the class action register yet, but it's expected to be up soon on the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ) website. Once it's announced, consumers and small businesses can file their claims there. The BfJ offers a registration form at www.bundesjustizamt.de/verbandsklagen. The Federal Office recommends using the electronic option, as it's speedy and efficient. Claims can be registered within three weeks following the oral hearing's conclusion.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting legal dance-off! Win, lose, or draw, this is one lawsuit you won't want to miss! 💥🚀👉💛💙💖✨
[1] Source: Here for eligibility criteria and compensation.[2] Source: Leipzig-based law firm Spirit Legal is representing Somi in the TikTok case.
- Participants in the TikTok class action lawsuit filed by Somi can register their claim with the Federal Office of Justice, where they may receive compensation if the lawsuit is successful.
- The compensation amount for TikTok users in the class action lawsuit varies according to the user's age at the time of platform usage; users under 16 may be eligible for up to €2,000, users aged 16 to 21 may receive up to €1,000, and users over 21 years may receive up to €500.
