Attorneys general from fourteen U.S. states filed a lawsuit against the "TikTok" platform on Tuesday, accusing the app of harming the mental health of its minor users and collecting personal data without permission.

The attorneys general specifically criticize the platform for "using addictive features to keep users engaged longer, leading to negative consequences for their mental health," according to a joint statement.

They pointed to several issues, including notifications at all times and the endless stream of videos or "content designed to capture attention."

A spokesperson for "TikTok" responded to AFP saying, "We reject these allegations, many of which seem false and misleading."

The group described the decision to file a lawsuit "instead of working with us on constructive solutions to the challenges facing the entire industry" as "disappointing."

In addition to California and New York, attorneys general from Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington state joined the lawsuit.

A similar action has been initiated in the states of Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Arkansas.

Texas also began legal proceedings last week against the company owned by the Chinese group "ByteDance," which is accused of selling personal data of minor users.

The U.S. Consumer Protection Agency had notified the Department of Justice in June about concerns regarding violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which was enacted in 1998.