The Department of Justice announced a $400 million settlement with TikTok, ByteDance, and affiliated entities resolving litigation concerning compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and its implementing regulations (COPPA).
Under the settlement, TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and an additional $100 million upon entry of an order vacating a prior consent decree entered against TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly. The settlement represents one of the largest recoveries ever obtained in a COPPA case.
“This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “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.”
Since the Justice Department filed its complaint in 2024, TikTok has undergone significant changes to its ownership, management, compliance functions, and privacy practices.
“Companies that collect children’s personal information must comply with the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This resolution secures a significant monetary recovery and reflects the Department’s commitment to ensuring children receive the full protections that Congress mandated.”
The company has implemented extensive measures designed to strengthen safeguards for younger users, improve age-related controls, and enhance parental oversight. Those developments have materially advanced the public interests underlying the Department’s litigation and have strengthened protections for millions of American families.
Today, a $400 million settlement was announced with TikTok, ByteDance, and affiliated entities (TikTok) resolving litigation concerning compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and its implementing regulations (COPPA). The settlement represents one of the… pic.twitter.com/veGyzThjvy
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) August 21, 2026
The resolution reflects the Department's commitment to achieving practical results that protect the public. The settlement ensures that American families continue to benefit from stronger protections without the delay and uncertainty of protracted litigation.
The US Department of Justice and TikTok have reached a $400 million settlement to resolve allegations the short-video app violated children's online privacy https://t.co/w5n7mxd3j8 pic.twitter.com/uA9yp2QfFR
— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) August 21, 2026
The Justice Department’s lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The matter was handled by the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch on referral from the Federal Trade Commission.
JUST IN: TikTok agrees to pay $400 million to settle U.S. allegations that it illegally collected children’s personal information without parental consent.
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) August 21, 2026
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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