TikTok · TikTok Terms of Service

Mandatory Individual Arbitration

High severity
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What it is

You form a contract with us when you accept these Terms or when you otherwise use or access the Platform.

Why it matters

Mandatory arbitration strips users of the right to sue TikTok in court or join with other affected users in a class action, significantly limiting legal recourse — particularly for low-value individual claims where arbitration costs may be prohibitive.

Consumer impact

TikTok's Terms grant the platform a permanent, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use all content you post — including videos, messages, and AI prompts — to train machine learning models and develop new technologies, meaning you cannot revoke this right even if you delete your account or content. Users are also bound by a mandatory arbitration clause with a class action waiver, which means you cannot sue TikTok as part of a group if you believe your rights have been violated. You can delete your account and content via the in-app settings, but note that content already incorporated into other users' posts will remain publicly accessible.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Within 30 days
    Send a written opt-out notice to TikTok's legal team within 30 days of first agreeing to these Terms. Include your full name, TikTok username, email address associated with your account, and a clear statement that you are opting out of mandatory arbitration.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority to challenge mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer contracts as unfair or deceptive practices under FTC Act Section 5.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State Attorneys General in California, New York, and other states have authority to challenge unconscionable arbitration and class action waiver provisions in consumer contracts.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
TikTok Terms of Service
Entity
TikTok
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002011
Document ID
CA-D-00032
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
d3539721aabef48180e1d19544aec3d5ebb50fb5a6fa66c261148d6a86e4976d
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: TikTok | Document: TikTok Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-002011
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:11:40 UTC | SHA-256: d3539721aabef481…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/tiktok/tiktok-terms-of-service/mandatory-individual-arbitration/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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