College Student Sues Dating App Makers Over Alleged Unauthorized Use of TikTok Videos in Geofenced Ads
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A 19-year-old college student has filed a lawsuit against three companies behind a dating application, alleging they used her TikTok videos without consent to target male students in her dormitory through geofenced advertisements.
Kaelyn Lunglhofer, a student at a Tennessee university, filed the complaint on May 4, 2026, in federal court. The suit names Quantum Communications Development Unlimited, Starpool Data Limited, and Guangzhou Yuedong Interconnection Technology as defendants. Lunglhofer claims the companies scraped her social media content and deployed it in targeted digital ads visible only to men within a specific geographic radius of her residence.
The complaint alleges the advertisements violated federal and state laws, including the Lanham Act, which governs trademark and false advertising, and Tennessee’s Entertainment Law Violation Infringement of State (ELVIS) Act, which protects individuals from unauthorized commercial use of their likeness.
Lunglhofer stated that the ads appeared on dating platforms frequented by male students in her building, creating an uncomfortable environment. She contends that the use of her image and video content was done without permission and for commercial gain, constituting a violation of her rights.
The defendants have not yet issued a public statement regarding the allegations. Their legal representatives have not commented on the filing as of this report.
The case raises questions about the extent of data scraping practices used by dating applications and the legal boundaries of using social media content in targeted advertising. Legal experts note that geofencing technology allows advertisers to deliver content based on precise location data, often raising privacy concerns.
Lunglhofer is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further use of her likeness. The lawsuit also seeks to establish precedent regarding the unauthorized use of user-generated content in digital marketing campaigns.
The court has not yet scheduled a hearing on the matter. Discovery proceedings are expected to begin in the coming weeks, during which both sides will exchange evidence and testimony.
This case follows a growing trend of legal challenges against technology companies over data privacy and consent. Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states, but this is the first to specifically address geofenced advertising using social media content in a university setting.
As the legal process unfolds, observers are watching to see how courts interpret the intersection of social media rights, advertising technology, and privacy laws. The outcome could influence future regulations on how companies collect and use personal data for targeted marketing.
The lawsuit remains active, with no resolution expected in the immediate future.