ByteDance / TikTok Illinois BIPA Biometric Data Class Action
Case Overview
Plaintiffs in this consolidated class action alleged that TikTok, owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance, covertly harvested sensitive biometric identifiers from users' videos — including facial geometry scans and voiceprints — without obtaining the written consent required under Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and similar statutes in other states. The lawsuit further alleged that TikTok shared user data with third parties in China and elsewhere without adequate disclosure, raising significant privacy concerns for the platform's then-estimated 89 million U.S. users.
ByteDance and TikTok agreed to a $92 million settlement in 2021, which received final court approval. The settlement was one of the largest BIPA-related resolutions at the time and required TikTok to implement enhanced privacy disclosures and data practices going forward. The case drew wide attention as part of a broader national debate about TikTok's data handling practices and its relationships with entities in China, eventually contributing to ongoing legislative and regulatory scrutiny of the platform in the United States.
Who May Qualify
U.S. residents who used TikTok at any point before September 30, 2021, particularly those located in Illinois and other states with biometric privacy protections. The claims period is now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did TikTok settle the biometric data privacy lawsuit?
Yes. TikTok and ByteDance settled the biometric data class action for $92 million in 2021. The settlement resolved claims that TikTok collected facial geometry and other biometric data from users without proper consent in violation of Illinois' BIPA law and similar state statutes.
What data did TikTok allegedly collect illegally?
The lawsuit alleged TikTok secretly scanned users' facial geometry from videos and collected voiceprints — both categories of biometric identifiers protected under Illinois' BIPA — without obtaining the required written consent or disclosing the data collection practices.
How much did TikTok users receive from the settlement?
Eligible class members who submitted valid claims received a pro-rata share of the $92 million settlement fund. Individual payouts varied based on the number of claims submitted and the claimant's state of residence, with Illinois residents generally receiving larger amounts.