Lawsuit against TikTok (updated 20th Jan 2026)

Image of Hollie Dance, Lisa Kenevan, Liam Walsh & Ellen Roome

The UK Parents Suing TikTok

We are the first UK parents to sue TikTok in the United States, bringing legal action in the state of Delaware following the deaths of our children.

We believe our children were exposed to extremely harmful content, promoted and amplified by TikTok’s algorithms. These cases raise serious questions about platform design, recommendation systems, and the duty of care owed to children.

Despite repeated and lawful requests, TikTok has refused to release our children’s online activity data. This data is vital to understanding what content our children were shown, how it was promoted to them, and whether the platform played a role in their deaths.

👉 You can [read the full complaint here].

Who Is Involved

The case now involves five British parents:

Ellen Roome
Lisa Kenevan
Hollie Dance
Liam Walsh
Louise Gibson

Together, we are standing up not only for our own children, Jools, Archie, Isaac, Maia, and Noah, but for every child and every family seeking truth. This case is about truth, transparency, and accountability.

We have specialist US lawyers - Social Media Victims Law Center. Their care, attention to detail, and relentless drive for answers have been invaluable to us and many other families seeking accountability from social media platforms.

Watch the BBC Documentary

Our cases are featured in the BBC documentary The Families Taking TikTok to Court, with Laura Kuenssberg in conversation with the families involved.

🎥 Click here to watch on BBC iPlayer

Court Update: TikTok Hearing and Outcome - Delaware Motion to Dismiss Hearing

Our lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance reached a crucial procedural stage on 16 January 2026 in Delaware, USA, when the court heard TikTok’s Motion to Dismiss.

This hearing was not about the evidence itself, but about whether TikTok could have the case thrown out before any evidence is examined. For us as parents, it was an extremely difficult and emotional day.

Sitting in a courtroom listening to abstract legal arguments about our children, while seeking answers about their deaths, was deeply painful. At the end of the hearing, the judge did not issue an immediate ruling. We are now awaiting (30-90 days) the court’s decision on whether the case will be dismissed or allowed to proceed. If the judge allows the case to continue, it will move into the Discovery phase. This is the stage at which TikTok could be legally required to disclose internal documents and our children’s online activity data, if that data has not already been deleted. This decision is pending. Whatever the outcome, we remain committed to pursuing truth, transparency, and accountability.

Why This Hearing Matters

The Motion to Dismiss is a critical gateway in the legal process.

If the case proceeds, TikTok may be compelled to hand over evidence about the content our children were shown and how its algorithm promoted or amplified it.
If the case is dismissed, we will carefully consider our legal options and continue to fight for answers through every available route.

This case is not just about our families. It raises serious questions about platform design, algorithmic amplification, and the duty of care owed by global technology companies to children.

Why I am Fighting for Jools’ Law

If Jools’ Law already existed in the UK, families would not be forced to pursue answers through foreign courts.

Jools’ Law would ensure that when a child dies:

Their online data is automatically preserved, and
That data is made available to the Coroner, not lost, deleted, or withheld.

Without this safeguard, vital evidence disappears, families are left without answers, and opportunities to protect other children are lost.

Our Commitment

We continue this fight in loving memory of Jools, Archie, Isaac, Maia, and Noah, and for every child whose life has been affected by harmful online content.

This is about truth.
This is about accountability.
And this is about protecting children.

Following the Case

You can track the legal progress via Delaware’s CourtConnect system:

🔗 View the Civil Docket Report for Case N25C-02-073

This unofficial docket provides a real-time overview of court filings, motions, hearing dates, and rulings.