We all click on “Accept” without reading, to go faster. Except that this popular app hides much more important changes than a simple technical adjustment.
We have all gotten into the habit of accepting the general conditions without really reading them, because they are long and often incomprehensible. Yet, they are the ones who define what a platform can do with our data. Looking closer, some users realized that the scope went well beyond simple videos liked or time spent scrolling. This time, the terms of service and privacy policy have changed, and not just to rephrase two legal sentences. Behind this update are broader rules on how the app can use information related to its users.
One of the important points concerns location. Thus, the Tiktok application can collect information about the user’s location, with a level of precision that depends on the phone’s settings and the permissions granted. This can range from an approximate location to much more precise data if this option is enabled. Even when we think we’re not sharing anything in particular, this information helps us understand where we spend time, which places come up often and at what times of the day.
The other big part concerns what you publish yourself. The policy mentions the collection of so-called sensitive information from shared content, comments or responses to surveys integrated into the application. In other words, what we tell, show or write can be integrated into the data associated with our account. This includes elements related to origin, religious beliefs, state of health, sex life, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality or even financial situation, as long as these subjects appear in the published content.
Added to this is the circulation of data between different entities of the group and technical partners. In other words, like many applications, TikTok works with services spread across several countries, which means that certain information may be transferred outside of France. Although these practices are common in digital technology, they make the data flow more difficult for users to follow.
To remedy this, it is not necessarily a question of deleting everything overnight, but of regaining some control over your settings. First step, take a look at the privacy settings of the application and the phone to limit access to the precise location, microphone or contacts if it is not essential. Also take the time to look at what information is public on your profile, what old content should be deleted and what data you share in videos, captions or comments. Two reflexes that can make the difference, even if it is important to keep in mind that a social network remains a public space.
