TikTok accounts expose teenagers to public bullying

LRT reports that a Kaunas mother has raised concerns about TikTok accounts created to mock teenagers. The accounts publish minors’ photos without permission alongside humiliating comments and profanity. Lithuanian police say such accounts are already known to them, and a warning from a virtual patrol officer is sometimes enough to have the material removed.

Kristina, whose name was changed, said teenagers sometimes send photos to account administrators specifically so they can be used to ridicule someone. The administrators then publish the images. Some of the accounts have only a few followers, while others have several hundred.

Police said they receive reports about so-called shame boards on social networks. These accounts publish minors’ photos, names and other information that may encourage bullying or violate children’s rights.

“After receiving such information, the Police Virtual Patrol first assesses the situation and, where possible, contacts the account administrator. Officers explain that publishing this type of content may be unlawful and ask for it to be removed,” police representatives said. They added that administrators often respond to such warnings. In one case, an administrator deleted the entire account after receiving a notification.

Depending on the circumstances, online bullying and the publication of personal data may result in civil or administrative liability, and in some cases criminal liability.

Account administrators may face civil liability for unlawfully violating a person’s image rights and privacy, including an obligation to remove the content and compensate for material or non-material damage. They may also be held liable under personal data protection requirements if minors’ data are processed unlawfully. Criminal liability may arise if the material is sexual in nature, involves the exploitation of minors or distributes child sexual abuse material.

Police said responsibility may also extend to people who send minors’ photos for publication. Under Article 2.22, paragraph 3, of Lithuania’s Civil Code, a person whose image rights have been violated may ask a court to stop the unlawful conduct and award compensation for material and non-material damage.

Eglė Tamulionytė, coordinator of the Children’s Line campaign Be Without Bullying, said online bullying can take many forms across different platforms. It may involve uploading a child’s image to social networks or messaging groups to humiliate or ridicule them, damage their reputation, disclose their address widely or encourage others to harm them.