Justice Department Secures One of Largest-Ever Children's Privacy Settlements Against TikTok
TikTok will pay $400 million to settle Justice Department claims it illegally harvested data from millions of underage users, a case years in the making against one of the world's most popular apps.
Justice Department reached a $400 million settlement with TikTokDepositPhotos
The Justice Department has reached a $400 million settlement with TikTok over violations of federal children's privacy law — one of the largest recoveries ever secured under COPPA. TikTok will pay $300 million up front, with an additional $100 million due if a prior consent decree against its predecessor, Musical.ly, is vacated.
The agency sued TikTok, alleging that it violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting and retaining data from its users younger than 13 without notifying or obtaining consent from their parents.
Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. said in a statement Friday, “This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents. The Department's priority is ensuring that children are protected online and that companies entrusted with their personal information meet their legal obligations. This resolution secures a substantial recovery while reinforcing the protections that families expect and deserve.”
“The most important result is that children and parents are better protected today than they were when this case began,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reflects substantial progress, secures a significant monetary recovery, and brings this matter to a successful conclusion."
The Justice Department further stated since they filed the 2024 complaint, TikTok has significantly changed its ownership, management, compliance, and privacy practices. It has strengthened safeguards for younger users, improved age controls, and enhanced parental oversight—advancing the litigation’s public interests and protecting millions of American families.
