Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier appeared on ‘Varney & Co.’ to discuss the state’s lawsuit against TikTok, alleging violations of Florida’s child social media law and endangerment of minors.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday a $400 million settlement with TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, resolving a case involving children’s privacy legislation.
“This settlement is a major victory for American children and parents,” Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. said in a statement.
The department’s priority remains ensuring children are protected online, with companies entrusted to meet their legal obligations regarding personal information; this resolution secures a substantial recovery and reinforces the protections families expect and deserves.
The lawsuit, tied to compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, was filed by the Biden administration’s DOJ in 2024.
The U.S. Department of Justice has secured a $400 million settlement from TiKTok and parent company ByteDance in a case related to children’s privacy legislation, the DOJ announced Friday. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Justice Department noted the settlement ranks among the largest ever reached in a case involving the privacy act.
Under the settlement terms, TikTok and ByteDance will pay $300 million immediately, with an additional $100 million due upon entry of an order vacating a prior consent decree against TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly.
Since the lawsuit was first filed, the Justice Department notes that TikTok has undergone significant changes to its ownership, management, compliance functions, and privacy practices.
The Justice Department said, since the lawsuit was first filed, “TikTok has undergone significant changes to its ownership, management, compliance functions and privacy practices.” (J. David Ake/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The DOJ noted that TikTok has implemented extensive measures designed to strengthen safeguards for younger users, improve age-related controls, and enhance parental oversight, developments that have strengthened protections for millions of American families.
The TikTok app logo on an iPhone Jan. 17, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis / AP Newsroom)
The DOJ stated the settlement underscores its commitment to protecting the public and acknowledges the progress TikTok has made.
“The most important result is that children and parents are better protected today than they were when this case began,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said in a statement.
The settlement reflects substantial progress, secures a significant monetary recovery, and brings this matter to a successful conclusion.
TikTok did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
