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Engadget
TikTok will pay $400 million to settle Justice Department lawsuit over child privacy
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have agreed to a $400 million settlement with the Department of Justice over alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The lawsuit claimed TikTok allowed children under 13 to create accounts and failed to delete data upon parent requests. The settlement emphasizes TikTok's efforts to enhance privacy measures for young users despite past scrutiny regarding its privacy practices. Since the lawsuit, TikTok has established a new entity for its US operations aimed at improving compliance and privacy protections.
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Published 21 Aug 2026, 21:25 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- TikTok settles DOJ lawsuit for $400 million.
- Settlement addresses COPPA violations regarding children's privacy.
- Company alleged to have mishandled data for children under 13.
- TikTok has made significant operational changes to enhance privacy.
- Settlement includes immediate $300 million payment and $100 million later.
Interesting facts
- This is one of the largest recoveries under COPPA.
- TikTok created a new entity, TikTok USDS, to improve business compliance.
Coverage gaps