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Brazil’s data protection watchdog has slapped ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, with a hefty fine of 153.7 million reais (around $29.8 million) for mishandling the personal data of children and teens, and for failing to put adequate safeguards in place to protect young users.
The National Data Protection Authority revealed the penalty in an official publication on Tuesday, alongside an order requiring ByteDance to erase improperly collected data and roll out a comprehensive plan to better shield minors on the platform.
The probe uncovered five breaches of Brazil’s General Data Protection Law connected to how TikTok manages user access-both for those browsing without an account and for registered users. In both scenarios, the authority found TikTok processed minors’ data without a proper legal basis and lacked effective systems to prevent children and adolescents from sharing data or signing up.
Moreover, ByteDance did not demonstrate that its technical and organizational measures met Brazil’s strict data protection standards.
Under the approved compliance plan, accounts for users under 16 will automatically have tighter privacy settings, with any changes requiring approval from their legal guardians. TikTok will also enhance parental control features and enforce stronger filters to block minors from seeing inappropriate content.
For unregistered users, TikTok will impose additional restrictions: they won’t be able to post, comment, send messages, follow accounts, or access live streams. This no-account mode will carry no ads in Brazil, offer less personalized content, and only show material suitable for all ages. Usage will be capped at 12 hours, and the platform will limit data collection to essentials like language, region, and basic device info needed to prevent fraud and ensure app functionality.
ByteDance has 10 business days from the notification, issued Monday, to appeal the fine to the authority’s board. As of Tuesday, TikTok had not made a public statement regarding the decision.
This development follows another recent move by the same agency, which ordered Discord to halt livestreaming in Brazil over child safety concerns. While TikTok’s penalty is a formal sanction, the Discord restriction is a preventive action pending a separate investigation.