British parents sue TikTok in US court over children's deaths

Five British families have filed a lawsuit in Delaware alleging their children's deaths were linked to a viral activity known as the 'Blackout challenge'; a motion to dismiss hearing is taking place as parents seek discovery of account data.

Five British families are pursuing legal action in a US court against TikTok after the deaths of their children were linked by the families to a viral online activity known as the Blackout challenge. The lawsuit was filed in Delaware because TikTok is incorporated there. Parents say the immediate hearing will address a motion to dismiss brought by TikTok. They are seeking discovery to obtain their children's account data. What is known: - Five UK families filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of Delaware, naming TikTok and its parent company ByteDance. - The families allege their children — Jools Sweeney, Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee, Maia Walsh and Noah Gibson — died while attempting or being exposed to the Blackout challenge. - A motion to dismiss hearing is scheduled in Delaware; the parents say they hope to prevent dismissal and to proceed to discovery to obtain account data. - TikTok has said it does not allow content that promotes dangerous activity, that it removes violating material and that it directs searches for dangerous hashtags to its Safety Centre. Summary: The case is at an early procedural stage, with TikTok asking the court to dismiss the suit and parents seeking discovery of account data. The hearing in Delaware will determine whether the families can proceed further in the litigation. The outcome and timing of any discovery are undetermined at this time.