The **U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ)** announced on Friday that **ByteDance**-owned **TikTok** will pay $400 million to settle a 2024 lawsuit accusing the company of violating child privacy laws in the country. As part of the settlement, the social media platform will pay $300 million immediately, with an additional $100 million contingent on the vacating of a prior consent decree against **TikTok**'s predecessor, **Musical.ly**, according to the DoJ. ### Allegations of Widespread Privacy Breaches A complaint filed in August 2024 alongside the **Federal Trade Commission (FTC)** accused the company of "massive-scale invasions of children's privacy." The lawsuit alleged that **TikTok** knowingly permitted children under 13 to create accounts and unlawfully collected data from those using its "Kids Mode." It further claimed that **TikTok** and **ByteDance** failed to comply with parents' requests to delete their children's accounts and information. At the time, **TikTok** disputed the arguments, stating many related to "past events and practices" that were either "factually inaccurate or have been addressed." ### A Landmark Settlement for Child Privacy The DoJ characterized the settlement as "one of the largest recoveries ever" obtained in connection with U.S. federal child privacy law, specifically the **Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)**. The department also noted that **TikTok** has since implemented extensive measures to improve safeguards for younger users, strengthen age-related controls, and enhance parental oversight. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. stated, "This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents. The Department's priority is ensuring that children are protected online and that companies entrusted with their personal information meet their legal obligations. This resolution secures a substantial recovery while reinforcing the protections that families expect and deserve." ### A Pattern of Regulatory Scrutiny This is not the first instance of **TikTok** facing regulatory action over child data privacy. In September 2023, **TikTok** was levied a €345 million fine for violating the European Union's **General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)** in relation to its processing of children’s personal data. Earlier this year, a U.S. joint venture allowed the app to continue operating in the country without a ban, in accordance with a divest-or-ban law upheld by the Supreme Court.