Brazilian regulator imposes $30 million penalty on TikTok for breaching child privacy rules
The National Data Protection Authority ordered ByteDance to delete minors' data after finding the platform violated Brazil's LGPD, marking a sharp escalation in tech oversight.
Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has levied a 150 million‑real (about $30 million) fine against TikTok’s parent company ByteDance for infringing the country’s General Data Protection Law (LGPD) in relation to children’s personal information. The decision follows an audit that uncovered the social‑media app collected and stored data from users under 18 without obtaining the legally required parental consent.
In addition to the monetary sanction, the ANPD ordered ByteDance to immediately purge all data it had gathered from minors in Brazil and to halt any further processing of such information until it can demonstrate full compliance with the LGPD. The authority gave the company a 30‑day window to present a remediation plan, after which a follow‑up inspection will verify that the data has been erased.
TikTok’s spokesperson acknowledged the ruling, stating that the company is reviewing the findings and will cooperate with the regulator to address the identified gaps. The platform has previously faced scrutiny in other jurisdictions for similar concerns, prompting a series of policy updates aimed at strengthening age‑verification mechanisms and limiting data collection from younger users.
The fine is the largest ever imposed by the ANPD on a foreign tech firm and signals a broader push by Brazilian officials to tighten oversight of digital services. Earlier this year, the authority sanctioned several multinational companies for non‑compliance with the LGPD, highlighting a trend toward more aggressive enforcement of privacy standards.
Industry analysts say the case could set a precedent for how other Latin American regulators approach child‑data protection, potentially influencing global best practices. For users, the ruling underscores the importance of parental oversight and the need for platforms to adopt transparent, age‑appropriate safeguards.
As the deadline approaches, ByteDance faces both financial and reputational stakes. Failure to comply could trigger additional penalties or restrictions on its operations within Brazil, a market that accounts for millions of active TikTok users.