Scoop: DOJ, TikTok settle for $400 million in children's privacy suit
Axios · LC · trust 58/100
Newsletters Axios Local Show Axios Pro Axios Live The Axios Show Login Axios All topics Axios Search 4 hours ago - Technology Scoop: DOJ, TikTok settle for $400 million in children's privacy suit Ashley Gold email (opens in new window) sms (opens in new window) facebook (opens in new window) twitter (opens in new window) linkedin (opens in new window) bluesky (opens in new window) Add Axios on Google Add Axios as your preferred source to
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.
What they're saying: "This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents," associate attorney general Stanley Woodward said in the release.
Flashback: When DOJ filed the lawsuit in 2024 under former attorney general Merrick Garland, along with the Federal Trade Commission, the government accused TikTok of violating a previous consent order from 2019 in a number of ways, including:
The big picture: TikTok was saved by the Trump administration multiple times after a divest-or-ban law passed and was upheld by the Supreme Court.
The bottom line: That's two wins for TikTok under Trump 2.0. The settlement may be expensive, but it's better for the company than continued litigation with DOJ.
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