Story thread · 11 reports / 10 sources

Scoop: DOJ, TikTok settle for $400 million in children's privacy suit

axios.com · 1h · first reportShare

The Justice Department and TikTok , along with parent company ByteDance , have reached a $400 million settlement to resolve allegations of violating children's online privacy laws, per an announcement first shared with Axios. Why it matters: The Biden administration's DOJ first filed the suit in 2024. TikTok will clear the allegations it violated the Children's Online Privacy Act by paying a total of $400 million, without undergoing further litigation or admitting wrongdoing. Since the lawsuit was filed, "TikTok has undergone significant changes to its ownership, management, compliance functions, and privacy practices," per the DOJ release. The settlement is one of the largest recoveries ever obtained in a case under the privacy law, the DOJ release states. What they're saying: "This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents," associate attorney general Stanley Woodward said in the release. "The Department's priority is ensuring that children are protected online