TikTok Settles Children's Privacy Case for $400 Million

TikTok, its parent ByteDance, and affiliated entities have agreed to pay $400 million to settle U.S. government litigation over alleged violations of children’s online privacy protections, the Department of Justice said Aug. 21. The settlement addresses alleged compliance issues under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and related regulations. TikTok will pay $300 million immediately, with an additional $100 million due once a court enters an order vacating a previous consent decree involving Musical.ly. The DOJ called it one of the largest COPPA recoveries ever. The government’s case stems from an Aug. 2, 2024 filing by the Justice Department on behalf of the FTC.