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TikTok and ByteDance to Pay $400 Million to Settle DOJ Children's Privacy Lawsuit

The settlement resolves a 2024 lawsuit alleging violations of federal children's privacy laws.

4 reports on this incident · first at Aug 21, 2026, 4:37 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 21, 2026, 3:07 p.m. ETUpdated Aug 21, 2026, 10:50 p.m. ET
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have agreed to pay $400 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the , according to reports from TechCrunch and NBC Bay Area. The resolves a 2024 lawsuit alleging violations of federal children's privacy laws. The DOJ alleged that TikTok violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by allowing millions of children under 13 to use the platform and collecting their personal information without parental consent, TechCrunch reported. NBC Bay Area reported that the lawsuit focused on allegations that TikTok and ByteDance violated a federal law requiring kid-oriented apps and websites to get parental consent before collecting personal information of children under 13, and that the companies failed to honor requests from parents who wanted their children's accounts deleted. The includes a $400 million payment, with $300 million to be paid immediately and $100 million after an order vacates an earlier consent decree, according to both outlets. The case was filed in district court, and the was reached with the companies' consent.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 21, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET

    TikTok and ByteDance Consent to $400 Million Settlement in Children's Privacy Case

    TikTok and ByteDance have consented to a $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, resolving a civil case over allegations that TikTok violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), according to TechCrunch.

    The DOJ alleged that TikTok allowed millions of children under 13 to use the platform and collected their personal information without parental consent. The settlement, reported by TechCrunch, was reached in a district court proceeding and is documented in a litigation release.

    The companies have agreed to the settlement, which resolves the allegations without a trial. The case is now at the settlement stage.

  2. Aug 21, 2026, 4:56 p.m. ET

    TikTok and ByteDance Settle Children's Privacy Case for $400 Million

    TikTok and ByteDance have agreed to a $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve a civil case alleging violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), according to TechCrunch.

    The DOJ alleged that TikTok allowed millions of children under 13 to use the platform and collected their personal information without parental consent. The settlement was reached by consent, according to TechCrunch. The litigation release did not state whether the companies admitted wrongdoing.

  3. Aug 21, 2026, 4:37 p.m. ETFirst report

    TikTok and ByteDance Reach $400 Million Settlement in Children's Privacy Case

    The U.S. Department of Justice announced that TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have agreed to a $400 million settlement to resolve a civil case alleging violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The DOJ alleged that TikTok allowed millions of children under 13 to use the platform and collected their personal information without parental consent, according to TechCrunch.

    The settlement, which the DOJ described as consented, was detailed in a litigation release. The case was filed in district court. The cause of the alleged violation has not been determined, and the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability.

    The development is ongoing, and further details may emerge as the settlement is finalized.

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Revision history

  1. Version 222 Aug 2026, 02:50current

    Updated to include both sources' reporting on the allegations and settlement details, and to attribute the $400 million figure to both outlets.

  2. Version 121 Aug 2026, 21:00current

    First published.

  3. Version 121 Aug 2026, 20:37current

    First published.

  4. Version 121 Aug 2026, 20:52

    First published.

  5. Version 121 Aug 2026, 20:56current

    First published.

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