University of Tennessee Student Sues Tech Company Over Unauthorized TikTok Use
A University of Tennessee student, Kaelin Lunglhofer, is reportedly stunned after discovering that a TikTok video she made to commemorate her high school graduation was misappropriated in an advertisement for a dating app known for its, let’s say, questionable reputation. A lawsuit has been filed against Quantum Communications, a tech company based in the British Virgin Islands, which owns the app called Meete.
“They’re making me look like a prostitute,” Lunglhofer expressed to a local ABC affiliate, revealing her distress over the situation.
According to Lunglhofer, she only became aware of the ad when a male classmate in her dorm recognized her video and sent it to her. “When I opened the video, it was an ad that looked like a malicious hookup app,” she shared.
The advertisement uses her TikTok footage while a narrator asks if viewers are “looking for friends with benefits,” insinuating that local women are on the app seeking casual relationships. This revelation was understandably alarming for Lunglhofer.
Her attorney, Abe Pafford, claims that Meete utilized stolen content and strategically targeted ads to deceive men in the University of Tennessee and Knoxville areas, giving the impression that these women were actively engaging with the platform.
Pafford elaborated, saying, “Given what this app is selling, hiring teenagers to act as involuntary spokespersons for a product without their consent or permission, then targeting and deceiving those around them with their ads, is the most egregious act of its kind.” He raised concerns about the possibility of the app exploiting videos from even younger individuals.
Currently, Lunglhofer is pursuing at least $750,000 from Meete, which reportedly has 17 million users worldwide. However, she emphasizes that her motivations go beyond financial compensation; she hopes to hold the company accountable and prevent similar incidents in the future. “I don’t want anyone else to go through this,” Lunglhofer stated.
