Attorney General Todd Blanche Praises $400 Million Settlement with TikTok to Protect Children's Online Privacy
Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the Justice Department's $400 million settlement with TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, to resolve litigation regarding children's privacy violations. The administration announced the agreement on Friday, noting that the settlement addresses TikTok's past failures to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Under the terms of the deal, TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and an additional $100 million upon the vacation of a prior consent decree. Blanche noted that the company has undergone significant changes in leadership and management since the 2024 lawsuit was filed. He emphasized that the settlement serves as a reminder that the government will hold companies accountable for ensuring the internet remains a safe place for children. The settlement is considered one of the largest recoveries ever obtained in a COPPA case, highlighting the commitment of the administration to protect young users from unlawful data collection.
Sources
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Scoop: DOJ, TikTok settle for $400 million in children's privacy suit
Axios
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TikTok Settles With U.S. Over Child Privacy Concerns for $400 Million
The New York Times
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Todd Blanche vows to 'come after' bad actors following 400M TikTok settlement
Fox News
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Justice Department reaches $400 million settlement with TikTok over child privacy case
CNN
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DOJ agrees to settle children’s privacy claims against TikTok for $400 million
Politico