TikTok agrees to $400 million settlement with US Justice Department over child privacy violations

TikTok and the United States government reached a settlement on Thursday that resolves accusations the short‑form video platform breached the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and related state laws. The agreement follows a joint investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and attorneys general from 42 states, which alleged that TikTok collected personal information from users under the age of 13 without obtaining verifiable parental consent.

Under the terms of the settlement, TikTok will pay a $92 million civil penalty and will be required to implement a series of privacy safeguards. The company must establish a “privacy center” that provides clear, accessible information about its data‑collection practices, obtain parental consent before gathering personal data from minors, and submit to independent audits for three years to verify compliance. Additionally, TikTok will be prohibited from collecting personal data from children under 13 unless it can demonstrate that it has met the statutory consent requirements.

The resolution marks the largest COPPA enforcement action to date and signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of social‑media apps that attract young audiences. By agreeing to the settlement, TikTok avoids further litigation while committing to stronger protections for minors, and the FTC and state regulators underscore their intent to enforce privacy rules across digital platforms.