TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the most downloaded apps worldwide. However, concerns have emerged about how much personal data TikTok collects from its users and what it does with that information. Many allege that TikTok is spying on people through their phones.
What kind of data does TikTok collect?
Like most social media platforms and smartphone apps, TikTok collects a range of data from its users including:
- Basic personal information like age, name, email address, phone number, etc.
- Precise location data based on IP address and GPS
- Browsing and search history on the app
- Content viewed, liked, shared, or created
- Contacts and social connections
- Financial information if purchasing coins
- Device information like operating system, settings, storage
Much of this data collection is similar to other social media companies and allows TikTok to deliver personalized content to each user. However, critics argue TikTok’s data harvesting is more aggressive and intrusive than competitors.
Is my data secure?
How securely TikTok stores user data has also faced scrutiny. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, so there are fears that data could be accessed by Chinese authorities. However, TikTok claims U.S. user data is stored on servers in the U.S. and Singapore, not China.
In June 2022, BuzzFeed News reported that TikTok engineers based in China had access to U.S. user data between September 2021 and January 2022. This raised bipartisan concerns from U.S. lawmakers about national security risks and violations of data privacy laws.
TikTok responded by minimizing internal access to user data and implementing “robust cybersecurity controls and authorization approval protocols for employees.” But doubts linger about how securely personal data is protected from foreign governments.
Could TikTok be spying on me through my phone?
Some accuse TikTok of actively spying on users through their smartphones. Videos have gone viral claiming TikTok accesses phone cameras and microphones without permission to surveil people.
Security researchers have found no clear evidence that TikTok is recording users without consent. Like all apps, TikTok requests access to phone cameras, microphones, contacts, etc. but cannot enable these without user permission. An exception is if your phone is rooted or jailbroken.
However, researchers have found instances of TikTok secretly reading content stored on users’ clipboards, which could include sensitive information like passwords. TikTok claimed this was an anti-spam measure but stopped the practice after public outcry.
So while the app isn’t actively hijacking your camera or microphone, some clandestine data collection methods have been discovered.
Should I be worried about TikTok spying?
It’s rational to have some concerns about privacy and data harvesting by TikTok, but claims it is outright spying are likely overblown. Here are a few key points:
- No evidence exists of TikTok covertly recording users without consent.
- Data collection is extensive but similar to other social media giants like Facebook.
- Fears of access by Chinese authorities are valid but unproven currently.
- Discovered clipboard reading was concerning but quickly addressed.
- Using phone settings to deny permissions can limit data gathering.
Users should be cautious and limit third-party app permissions, but TikTok is likely no more intrusive than most free social media apps. Avoiding it altogether may be an overreaction to spying fears unless concrete evidence emerges.
How can I protect my privacy on TikTok?
If you enjoy using TikTok but want to boost your privacy, here are some steps to consider:
- Provide only basic personal info and use a nickname instead of real name.
- Customize privacy settings to limit data visibility.
- Disable access to phone contacts, camera, microphone, location in app settings.
- Don’t link other accounts like Instagram or Facebook.
- Turn off personalized ads which rely on data collection.
- Avoid storing sensitive info like passwords on your clipboard when using the app.
- Frequently clear your watch/search history within TikTok.
- Consider using a burner phone number or virtual number just for TikTok.
Being more privacy-conscious requires some trade-offs like less personalized content. But it can help ease concerns about extensive data gathering by TikTok or potential spying.
Conclusion
It’s prudent to approach rapidly growing apps like TikTok with skepticism about how extensively they may harvest your personal data. Some concerns about foreign government access or potential spying are valid.
However, concrete evidence of TikTok actively compromising devices to spy on users remains lacking. With proper privacy settings and permissions disabled, risks can be minimized without completely deleting your account. Being informed about the types of data TikTok uses allows each person to weigh their comfort level with the popular app.