Brazil Fines ByteDance $30 Million Over Teens' Data

Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority fined ByteDance 153.8 million reais (about $29.8 million) for irregularities in processing data of children and teenagers, stating TikTok Brazil lacked a valid legal basis for data on ages 13 to 18 and must delete improperly collected data. The agency also ordered ByteDance to remove data from underage users, inform third parties with whom it shared the data, and produce a technical report signed by the data protection officer with system audit logs within tight deadlines, with daily penalties of 137,081.49 reais for noncompliance. The total fine could be reduced by 25% if ByteDance waives its right to appeal within 10 days and pays within 20 days. This action reflects a broader global trend of heightened scrutiny on platforms’ safeguards for minors, with Brazil also previously ordering Discord to suspend livestreaming features. ByteDance Brasil did not immediately comment on the decision, and the case is part of ongoing regulatory efforts around child data protection on social media platforms.