TikTok’s U.S. joint venture has joined Lantern, a cross-platform initiative that allows technology companies to share information about harmful activity involving children, expanding the program’s reach across major online platforms.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture, which was established in January as a majority American-owned entity, will participate in Lantern alongside companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Snap, Discord, Reddit, Roblox and Twitch.
Launched in 2023 by the Tech Coalition, Lantern enables participating companies to securely share signals about accounts, content and behaviour linked to online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The system is designed to help companies identify people or activity that may move between platforms to avoid detection.
Lantern has shared more than 2 million signals since its launch, contributing to more than 350,000 enforcement actions involving accounts, URLs and content, according to the Tech Coalition. Participating companies independently review the information and determine whether action is warranted under their own policies and legal obligations.
TikTok’s U.S. venture already reports suspected child sexual abuse material and other threats to children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through the CyberTipline, as required under U.S. law.
The company will also contribute $2 million to NCMEC’s effort to modernise the CyberTipline. The project is expected to cost $10 million over three years and aims to introduce more advanced search, automation and analysis tools to help identify potential harm more quickly and reduce the time required to process reports.
NCMEC operates the CyberTipline, which receives reports of suspected child exploitation from technology companies and other sources before referring actionable cases to law enforcement.
TikTok’s decision to join Lantern comes as its U.S. operations undergo significant structural changes. The TikTok USDS Joint Venture was established following a U.S. regulatory agreement and has responsibility for protecting U.S. user data, overseeing trust and safety policies and managing content moderation for its American operations.
The joint venture said its mandate includes strengthening trust and safety measures while maintaining TikTok’s broader global functionality for American users.
Lantern was created in response to concerns that people involved in online child exploitation can exploit gaps between platforms by moving between services. Its cross-platform approach allows participating companies to identify links that may not be visible when each service investigates activity independently.
With TikTok’s U.S. operation now participating, the program adds one of the world’s largest social media platforms to an expanding network focused on detecting and disrupting child exploitation online.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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