The Iowa Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Iowa courts have jurisdiction over TikTok and its related entities in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Brenna Bird, rejecting the social media giant's attempt to dismiss the case on jurisdictional grounds.
The state's highest court issued its decision January 23, 2026, in *State of Iowa ex rel. Attorney General Brenna Bird v. TikTok, Inc.*, affirming the Iowa District Court for Polk County's earlier denial of TikTok's motion to dismiss for lack of specific personal jurisdiction.
Justice McDermott delivered the opinion for the court, with all justices joining the unanimous decision. The ruling allows Bird's lawsuit against TikTok, Inc., TikTok LTD., TikTok PTE. LTD., ByteDance LTD., and ByteDance, Inc. to proceed in Iowa state courts.
At the center of the lawsuit are allegations that TikTok entities deceived users about the app's safety by maintaining a "12+" age rating on app stores despite the presence of mature and age-inappropriate content. According to the court documents, the State of Iowa contends that TikTok deliberately misrepresented the platform's safety to attract younger users while appearing safe to concerned parents.
The case highlights the growing scrutiny of social media platforms' content moderation practices and their marketing to minors. The TikTok application has become widely used among American teenagers, making parental concerns about age-appropriate content a significant issue for both families and regulators.
TikTok's legal team, led by attorneys from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Des Moines and Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, D.C., had argued that Iowa courts lacked specific personal jurisdiction over the defendants. The companies sought interlocutory review of the district court's jurisdictional ruling, attempting to halt the case before proceeding to the merits.
The defendants' jurisdiction challenge represents a common legal strategy for large technology companies facing state-level enforcement actions. By arguing that state courts lack authority over them, companies can potentially avoid litigation in multiple jurisdictions or force cases into federal court.
Attorney General Bird's office, represented by Solicitor General Eric H. Wessan and assisted by attorneys from Cooper & Kirk PLLC, successfully defended the district court's jurisdiction finding. The state's legal team argued that Iowa courts have sufficient connections to the defendants' conduct to exercise personal jurisdiction.
The Iowa Supreme Court's decision came after oral arguments held October 24, 2025, with the case proceeding on an expedited timeline typical of interlocutory appeals involving jurisdictional questions. District Court Judge Jeffrey Farrell had initially denied TikTok's motion to dismiss in the lower court proceedings.
Several amicus curiae briefs were filed in the case, indicating broader interest in the jurisdictional and substantive issues at stake. Professors Alan Trammell and Derek Bambauer submitted a brief through attorneys at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and Belin McCormick, P.C. Additionally, NetChoice, a technology trade association, filed an amicus brief through attorneys at Nyemaster Goode, P.C.
The presence of academic and industry amicus participation suggests the case's potential implications extend beyond Iowa's specific claims against TikTok. Legal experts often file such briefs when cases involve novel legal questions or could establish precedents affecting broader industry practices.
With the jurisdictional hurdle now cleared, the case will return to the district court for proceedings on the substantive allegations against TikTok. The State of Iowa will need to prove its claims that the defendants violated state laws through their content rating and safety representations.
The ruling represents a victory for state attorneys general seeking to hold technology companies accountable for their business practices within state borders. As social media platforms face increasing regulatory scrutiny nationwide, the Iowa decision could influence how other states approach similar enforcement actions.
The case also reflects growing bipartisan concern about social media's impact on minors, with state officials across the political spectrum pursuing various legal strategies to address platform safety issues. Attorney General Bird's lawsuit joins a wave of state-level actions targeting technology companies' practices regarding younger users.
TikTok and ByteDance now face the prospect of defending against Iowa's substantive allegations while potentially confronting similar challenges in other jurisdictions. The companies may still pursue federal court options or additional appellate strategies as the case proceeds.
The unanimous nature of the Iowa Supreme Court's decision strengthens the jurisdictional ruling's precedential value and reduces the likelihood of further successful challenges on those grounds. However, the defendants retain the right to contest the case's merits and may pursue other legal defenses as litigation continues.
As the case moves forward, it will test the boundaries of state authority over global technology platforms and could establish important precedents for how social media companies market their services to families and younger users.