TikTok Hit with Record Setting Fine for Collecting Data of Children

TikTok Hit with Record Setting Fine for Collecting Data of Children

TikTok, a popular video-sharing app, has agreed to pay $5.7 million to settle allegations that it collected data on children.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Mar 04, 2019

Popular video-sharing app TikTok has agreed to pay $5.7 million to settle allegations that it illegally collected personal information from children under the age of 13, such as names, email addresses and their location.

the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said in a statement that the TikTok fine is a record for a child privacy case.

TikTok, which belongs to $75 billion startup ByteDance, has more than half a billion users worldwide. The company merged popular video-sharing app Musical.ly and TikTok last August. The fines handed down by the United States relate back to "disturbing practices" by Musical.ly. 

The FTC said its investigation into Musical.ly discovered practices, including "collecting and exposing the location" of young children. Despite receiving thousands of complaints from parents, the company failed to comply with requests to delete the information about underage children and held onto it longer than necessary, according to the commission. 

TikTok said in a statement that it is committed to "creating measures" to protect users, including tools for parents to protect their kids.

Last Wednesday, the company introduced a "separate app experience" for younger U.S. users in which they "cannot do things like share their videos on TikTok, comment on others' videos, message with users or maintain a profile or followers."

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

  • Report: Cyber Attackers Continue to Turn to AI-Based Tools to Avoid Detection

    Comcast Business recently released its 2025 Cybersecurity Threat Report, a comprehensive analysis of 34.6 billion cybersecurity events detected between June 1,2024 and May 31, 2025. Now in its third year, the report offers business leaders a unique perspective into the evolving threat landscape and provides actionable insights to help organizations strengthen their defenses and align cybersecurity with business risk. Read Now

  • Axis Communications Creates AI-powered Video Surveillance Orchestra

    What if cameras could not only see the world, but interpret it—and respond like orchestra musicians reading sheet music: instantly, precisely, and in perfect harmony? That’s what global network technology leader Axis Communications set to find out. Read Now

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.