TikTok, ByteDance Agree to $400 Million U.S. Settlement Over Children’s Privacy

TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have agreed to pay $400 million to settle a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit alleging violations of children’s online privacy laws. The case centered on claims that TikTok collected personal information from users under 13 without obtaining the required parental consent.

The lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleged that TikTok allowed children to create regular accounts and collected and retained personal information despite requirements under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The government also alleged that the company sometimes failed to delete children’s accounts and information after parents requested removal. Under the settlement, TikTok will pay $300 million immediately, with another $100 million due after a previous consent decree involving its predecessor, Musical.ly, is vacated. The companies do not have to admit wrongdoing under the agreement.

The Justice Department described the settlement as one of the largest recoveries in a COPPA case. The department also noted that TikTok has since strengthened privacy practices, age controls and parental oversight.

The agreement highlights growing U.S. scrutiny of how major social media platforms protect younger users and handle their personal information.

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