TikTok, ByteDance Reach $400 Million COPPA Settlement With U.S. Justice Department
The Justice Department said Friday, August 21, 2026, that TikTok and its owner ByteDance will pay $400 million to settle a U.S. lawsuit over children's online privacy.[1]
Under the deal TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million becomes payable after a court order overturns a prior consent decree against predecessor Musical.ly.[1] The settlement resolves a 2024 Justice Department lawsuit that accused TikTok and ByteDance of collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent.[1] The complaint also said the companies ignored parental deletion requests and failed to delete accounts they knew belonged to under-13 users.[1] Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. called the agreement "a major victory for American children and parents" and said it reinforces online protections for families.[1]
The Justice Department first sued TikTok and its Beijing-based parent in 2024, accusing them of violating the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.[1] TikTok has since restructured its U.S. operations, forming a new TikTok U.S. joint venture in January 2026 with investors that include Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati firm MGX.[1]
CBS News separately reported that TikTok agreed to pay $400 million to settle child privacy claims.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- The Justice Department said TikTok will pay a total of $400 million — $300 million immediately and an additional $100 million that becomes payable after a court order vacates a prior consent decree against predecessor company Musical.ly.
- The settlement resolves a 2024 DOJ lawsuit accusing TikTok and parent ByteDance of violating COPPA by collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent, failing to honor parental deletion requests, and not deleting accounts known to belong to under‑13 users.
- Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. called the agreement “a major victory for American children and parents” and said it reinforces online protections for families.
- Since the 2024 lawsuit, TikTok restructured its U.S. operations, forming a new TikTok U.S. joint venture in January 2026 with investors that include Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati firm MGX.
- The Justice Department announced the settlement on Friday, August 21, 2026.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- On Friday, August 21, 2026, the Justice Department said TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million after a court order vacates a prior consent decree against predecessor company Musical.ly.
- The settlement resolves a 2024 DOJ lawsuit alleging TikTok and ByteDance violated COPPA by collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent, failing to honor parental deletion requests, and not deleting accounts known to belong to under‑13 users.
- Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. publicly called the agreement "a major victory for American children and parents" and said it reinforces online protections for families.
- Since the 2024 lawsuit, TikTok has restructured its U.S. operations, forming a new TikTok U.S. joint venture in January 2026 with investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati firm MGX.