TikTok?s immensely popular app gathers and stores user data. This includes their location, favorite movies and how much time they devote to using the platform.
Some governments are wary that data-mining software might share it with China or advance pro-Beijing propaganda; others have banned such apps from government devices.
Following a £12.7 million ($24 million) fine from the UK data watchdog for improperly processing the data of 1.4 million children under the age of 13 who were using its platform, TikTok was recently fined €345 million ($560 million) for violating EU data laws regarding children’s accounts.
What information is TikTok collecting?
TikTok collects an array of user data. This includes information provided during account creation such as username, age and email address as well as video watch history and interactions with the app. In addition, TikTok tracks device used to access TikTok including screen size, CPU type/RAM memory usage information as well as location data according to company statements.
China’s expansive terms of service outlines in great detail its access to personal data such as contacts and calendars, device-related details such as operating system information and keystroke patterns and rhythms, battery health status and connected audio devices. Experts note that most people don’t read through these agreements carefully enough to know that their data is going overseas – or worse still that some may not even realise it’s being sent there!
Internet 2.0 recently made the claim that TikTok can access your hard drive for private files, track your GPS location hourly and scan other applications on your device. But a representative from TikTok denied these allegations by noting the collection of GPS data isn’t done in Australia and no Chinese servers mentioned in source code analysis exist within their network.
How is it being used?
TikTok uses the information it collects to tailor user experiences and target advertising, while simultaneously developing its app and its features.
Example of how it works: it knows the length of time a user spent watching a video, whether they rewatched it or unmuted it, which devices they own and which locations they visit; even recording MAC addresses to identify those devices within network traffic.
Information shared via these applications may also be sold to third-party vendors for further use or sale.
Critics worry the data could fall into Chinese government hands via parent company ByteDance’s ownership; some governments, including Australia, have banned its app due to these concerns. ByteDance has pledged not to give access to user data by any government and publishes biannual transparency reports about government requests for data requests from ByteDance.
Are TikTok?s practices compliant with Australian privacy laws?
Dixon or her assistant commissioner were unable to ascertain if TikTok is compliant with Australian privacy laws, citing ongoing investigations by both British and European data protection watchdogs – these inquiries will likely take time before being concluded.
TikTok stands accused of violating Australia’s privacy laws through its use of tracking devices known as pixels to harvest information from people not running its app on their devices. TikTok denies this claim and states pixels are an industry standard practice and are optional for advertising clients to adopt.
Critics allege that ByteDance, which owns TikTok, has close ties to authoritarian China. Chinese lawmakers consider big data an essential fifth factor of production alongside land, labor, capital, and technology; its national intelligence laws permit companies to give over their data directly to the Communist Party. Many governments worldwide have banned TikTok due to security concerns.
Are TikTok?s practices compliant with the Children?s Online Privacy Protection Act?
COPPA requires online services to obtain parental permission before collecting personal information from children under 13. While many platforms make clear they are intended for adults only, regulators will consider whether the website or app has actual knowledge that its user base includes children.
TikTok has been accused of knowing its app was being used by children under 13, due to numerous complaints from parents and access to data suggesting many users were under this age threshold. For instance, reports indicate they received thousands of complaints from these sources alone.
Additionally, websites or apps must include features specifically tailored for children as well as options that enable them to filter content or restrict it altogether. Companies should make their Privacy Policies easily available and accessible for children while restricting virtual gifting to adults while disabling direct messaging for under 16s. TikTok has taken some steps in response to increasing scrutiny to address these issues.
