JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4JAX is investigating a TikTok account accused of secretly filming women and children in public places and posting the videos online without their knowledge or consent.
The videos seem to have been recorded across Jacksonville, Palatka, and St. Augustine. The user’s name on TikTok is “staugustineflorid.”
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Some of the posts on the page have disturbing content and captions such as “virgin white girl,” “cute teenage girl,” and “sexy lady.”
TikTok creator Jason Goodrich has made several videos warning women about these accounts. Goodrich helped get similar pages taken down. He describes the content as “creepy.” He said, “They definitely didn’t look of age, so I was like OK. We have to try to get this taken down.” The main account had about 1,600 to 1,700 followers before it was removed.
Local attorney Shannon Schott reviewed the posts and explained that videos or photos taken in public generally are not against the law. However, there could be civil claims if someone’s name or likeness is used commercially to make money or gain influence.
Schott says if you look up this account and find yourself on here, you possibly “can pursue legal action.”
Regarding videos or photos of minors, Schott noted that Florida law does not have specific protections as California does. She added, “There’s space in the law to say that these girls should not be on the accounts, especially since it definitely has an undertone of sexual motivation.”
Goodrich emphasized the importance of raising awareness. “If we can’t do anything about it legally at the moment, we can’t get him arrested, make him as uncomfortable as he’s making these women. If we make it known that he’s going around doing all this, now everybody’s on guard.”
Schott acknowledged the unfortunate reality, saying, “It’s unfortunate that we have to tell women and girls to be aware of their surroundings, but that’s just the world that we currently live in.”
She also advised that if someone finds themselves in multiple posts, it could be grounds for cyberstalking or harassment. If you notice someone following or recording you in public in an inappropriate way, you should tell them to stop and consider reporting them to law enforcement for stalking or harassment.