TikTok and ByteDance have agreed to pay $400 million to resolve a Justice Department investigation into illegal collection of children's personal information, according to a settlement announced by the DOJ.
The settlement addresses violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires platforms to obtain parental consent before collecting data from users under 13. The DOJ alleged that TikTok collected personal information including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and precise locations from children without verifiable parental approval.
The investigation focused on TikTok's operation in the United States beginning in 2019. The platform has more than 170 million American users, with a substantial portion under 18 years old. COPPA, enacted in 1998, carries civil penalties for each violation; settlements typically account for the scope and duration of alleged unauthorized collection.
The $400 million figure places this case among the largest child privacy settlements. Facebook paid $5.7 billion to the Federal Trade Commission in 2019 to resolve claims it mishandled user data. YouTube agreed to a $39 million FTC settlement in 2019 over collection of children's viewing data without notice.
TikTok has faced sustained regulatory scrutiny across multiple U.S. agencies. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States sought to force a sale or divestment of the platform, citing national security concerns over Chinese ownership. That proceeding has remained unresolved for years.
The settlement requires TikTok to implement enhanced data deletion procedures and age-screening mechanisms. The company must also delete previously collected data from children whose parents did not consent to collection.
This resolves one of several active enforcement actions against TikTok. The FTC has separately pursued cases related to video deletion practices and account security. The DOJ settlement does not bar future enforcement on other grounds.
