Explained: What data does TikTok collect?
While Tiktok ban news continues to come from all over the world, the popular question is "What data does TikTok collect?" and why is it important?
The biggest issue over TikTok's safety is connected to national security, notably the likelihood that ByteDance's ownership of the app may provide the Chinese government with access to the personal data of its users. So what data do they have exactly? Let's take a closer look.
What data does TikTok collect?
TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to share short-form videos. However, when users download and install the app on their phones, they agree to give up a significant amount of personal information, which has raised concerns among users and privacy advocates.
In addition to the information mentioned in the original text, TikTok also collects data on a user's location, contacts, and messages. This means that the app can access and store the phone numbers, email addresses, and other contact information of a user's friends and family members.
Moreover, TikTok's algorithm uses machine learning to analyze user behavior and preferences, which allows the app to suggest personalized content and ads to users. This means that the app collects data on a user's likes, comments, and shares, as well as their interactions with other users.
Here is the full list of what data TikTok collects:
- Purchase information, including payment card numbers, billing, and shipping addresses.
- User’s activities on other websites and apps or in stores, including the products or services purchased, online or in person.
- File names and types.
- Keystroke patterns and rhythms.
- IP address, mobile carrier, time zone settings, model of the device, and operating system.
- Information about videos, images, and audio.
- Objects and scenery that appear in videos, including tourist attractions, shops, or other points of interest.
- Biometric identifiers such as faceprints and voiceprints.
- Cookies that collect, measure, and analyze which web pages users view most often and how they interact with content.
- Small images or pieces of data embedded in images and ads that can recognize the time and date a page is viewed and a description of that page.
“The TikTok app is not unique in the amount of information it collects, compared to other mobile apps”
The collection of such extensive data can lead to concerns regarding user privacy, security, and data protection. Therefore, users should be aware of the extent to which their personal information is being collected and shared when using TikTok. They should take steps to protect their privacy and data security, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly reviewing and adjusting their privacy settings.
Advertisement
Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.
He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.
Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?
Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?
Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.
The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.
It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.
> The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…
Sadly, I have to agree.
Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.
If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!
We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.
because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…
“Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.
How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.
Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.
Sorry posted on the wrong page.
such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time
I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.
I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S
Quoting the article,
“As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”
Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?
I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.
@John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]
This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.
> Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.
Firefox did this long before Safari.
Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.