TikTok will pay $400 million to settle DOJ child privacy lawsuit

The US Department of Justice says TikTok will pay $400 million to settle a 2024 lawsuit alleging violations of COPPA. The DOJ claimed TikTok collected data from children without parental notice or consent and failed to delete accounts when parents requested it.

The settlement underscores escalating US scrutiny of how major platforms handle children’s data and parental controls. Large penalties may push social apps to strengthen age assurance and data deletion practices before regulators force broader changes.