Washington, en.SERU.co.id — TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have agreed to pay $400 million to settle a US Justice Department lawsuit alleging violations of children’s online privacy laws. The agreement was announced on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Under the settlement, TikTok will pay $300 million immediately, with another $100 million to follow once a court order vacates a 2019 consent decree involving Musical.ly, the app that later became TikTok.
The Justice Department described the agreement as one of the largest recoveries in a case brought under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA.
TikTok Accused of Collecting Children’s Data
COPPA requires online services to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13.
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit in 2024 following a referral from the Federal Trade Commission. Officials alleged that TikTok allowed millions of children under 13 to create regular accounts and collected information including email addresses, phone numbers and location data without proper parental consent.
The government also alleged that TikTok frequently failed to delete children’s accounts and personal information when parents requested it.
The case included claims that TikTok had violated the terms of a 2019 FTC consent decree involving Musical.ly. That case resulted in a $5.7 million fine over similar children’s privacy concerns.
Read Also:
AI Ustazah Nia Hajar Goes Viral on TikTok Before Account Turns Private
Settlement Does Not Admit Wrongdoing
The Justice Department said TikTok has made significant changes to its ownership, management, compliance functions and privacy practices since the lawsuit was filed.
The company has introduced measures intended to strengthen protections for younger users, improve age controls and expand parental oversight.
Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. said the settlement would reinforce protections for children and families online.
The agreement resolves the government’s claims without a determination of liability or an admission of wrongdoing by TikTok or ByteDance.
TikTok did not immediately comment on the settlement.
Previous major COPPA settlements include YouTube‘s $170 million payment in 2019 and Epic Games’ $275 million payment in 2022.
