Brazil Fines TikTok Nearly $30 Million Over Child Data Privacy Violations

Brazil’s data protection authority has imposed a fine of nearly $30 million on ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, over alleged violations involving the collection and processing of children’s and teenagers’ personal information.

The regulator said TikTok breached Brazil’s data protection laws by collecting and processing the personal data of young users without what it considered a valid legal basis or sufficient safeguards.

The alleged violations reportedly affected both users who were logged into their accounts and those who accessed the platform without registering.

Brazil’s authorities estimated that TikTok may have processed the personal information of at least 8 million children, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of the platform’s age-verification system and its ability to prevent minors from accessing features without appropriate protections.

Under the ruling, TikTok has been ordered to delete personal data that was obtained illegally.

The company must also develop a comprehensive and improved framework for protecting children and teenagers who use the platform.

Particular attention was given to TikTok’s “logged-out feed,” which allows people to watch and browse content without creating an account.

Brazilian regulators argued that this feature could make it easier for minors to use the platform while avoiding age-verification checks.

The authority noted that the logged-out browsing feature is available in Brazil, while access is more restricted in the United States and Europe, where users generally need to register before accessing the platform.

ByteDance has been given 10 days to appeal the decision.

The TikTok case forms part of a broader effort by Brazilian authorities to strengthen online protections for children.

Earlier this month, the country’s regulator ordered Discord to suspend its livestreaming feature, accusing the platform of failing to adequately protect children and teenagers.

The move followed the death of a 13-year-old girl by suicide after a livestream in which authorities alleged that she was encouraged to harm herself.

Brazilian authorities, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have increasingly focused on regulating how children and teenagers use social media and other online services.

The country’s Supreme Court has also been involved in efforts to strengthen internet regulation, although authorities continue to face challenges in enforcing new measures.

Brazil’s action reflects a growing global push to hold major technology companies accountable for protecting young users.

Countries such as Australia, Canada and Indonesia are also introducing or considering stronger rules aimed at limiting children’s exposure to online risks and ensuring that companies handle minors’ personal data responsibly.

The latest fine against TikTok underscores the increasing pressure on social media platforms to improve age verification, strengthen privacy protections and take greater responsibility for the safety of children online.

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