South Carolina attorney general plans litigation against TikTok after victory against Google

GOP South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson discusses looking into the social media platform TikTok after winning a legal victory against Google regarding privacy. 

AG Wilson, along with 39 other attorneys general, reached a $391.5 million multi-state settlement with Google over its location tracking practices relating to Google Account settings.  

"I tell people when you're using an app or a platform, whether it's Google or TikTok, or Snapchat or Twitter — if you are receiving a free service or a free good from a big tech company, you are in fact, the goods and services that are being sold. Your data is what is being monetized," Wilson said on Wednesday's edition of the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "Nothing is actually free. They are monetizing your personal data."

Many elected officials have expressed concern with the social media platform TikTok because it is based in China and has been credibly accused of stealing users' information.

"A big tech company that is owned by the Chinese government is really scary," Wilson said. "I'm in the National Guard. I've gotten cyber briefings on what the capabilities of big tech are. It is terrifying. If people actually knew how much companies like TikTok — owned by the Chinese government — actually knew about you, there would be more concern." 

Wilson said he is talking with other attorneys general about looking into TikTok and holding them accountable.

"We're talking with other states right now," Wilson concluded. "We're going to be doing to TikTok what we've done to Google. We're going to be looking at them the way they've been looking at us."