Miyares files suit against TikTok, as Trump considers lifting ban on China-owned app

Soon-to-be-President Trump is publicly mulling blocking the TikTok ban that the Supreme Court he packed with MAGAs just said can go into effect. Another Trump-o-phyte who didn’t get the message from the Dear Leader: Jason Miyares.

The AG’s office announced Friday that Miyares has filed a lawsuit in the Richmond City Circuit Court against TikTok and ByteDance Ltd., the app’s China-based parent company, which seeks to hold TikTok accountable for misleading the public regarding the app’s connection to and potential for abuse by the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party.

The suit alleges that the app TikTok was intentionally designed to be addictive for adolescent users and that the companies deceived parents and Virginians about TikTok’s content, including by claiming the app is appropriate for children over the age of 12 or rated T for Teen, in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

“For years, TikTok has marketed itself to Virginians and Americans alike as a harmless, safe, and enjoyable social media app,” Miyares said. “Yet the facts of the matter are that TikTok harms our kids and exposes them to severe profanity, sexually explicit material, violence, mature themes, and drug and alcohol content.”

A press release from his office on Friday also noted that “Miyares applauds the Supreme Court for upholding that law today.”

Meanwhile, we have news that Trump, with a nod to one of his top funders, Jeff Yass, who holds a massive ownership stake in TikTok, is considering issuing an executive order on his first day in office that will allow TikTok to continue until new owners are found.

Also, there’s the news bit that TikTok CEO Shou Chew has been invited to sit in a “position of honor” at the inauguration on Monday.

Seems that Republicans aren’t on the same page with this TikTok thing.

Case in point: Jason Miyares.

“As the People’s Protector, I will use the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to shield all Virginians, and especially our children, from this deceptive and harmful conduct. TikTok has crossed a line, and today will be asked to pay a price,” Miyares said.