TikTok reaches $400m settlement over US children's privacy lawsuit

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have agreed to pay $400 million to settle a US government lawsuit that accused them of violating federal children's online privacy laws. The case, filed by the US Department of Justice in 2024, alleged that TikTok allowed millions of children under the age of 13 to use the platform while collecting their personal information without obtaining the parental consent required under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Under the terms of the settlement, TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and an additional $100 million if a previous consent decree involving its predecessor, Musical.ly, is vacated. The Justice Department described the agreement as one of the largest recoveries secured in a COPPA case.

The settlement also includes measures designed to strengthen protections for younger users, including tighter age controls, additional safeguards for children, and increased parental oversight. TikTok and ByteDance are not required to admit any wrongdoing as part of the agreement. The lawsuit further alleged that TikTok continued to retain information belonging to underage users despite an earlier 2019 settlement involving Musical.ly, which had paid $5.7 million over alleged COPPA violations.

This agreement comes amid broader scrutiny of TikTok's approach to children's safety and privacy in the United States, reflecting ongoing concerns from regulators and lawmakers about the platform's data practices involving minors.

(Source：The Daily Star)