"When TikTok users in the US opened the app today, they were greeted with a pop-up asking them to agree to the social media platform's new terms of service and privacy policy before they could resume scrolling. These changes are part of TikTok's transition to new ownership. In order to continue operating in the US, TikTok was compelled by the US government to transition from Chinese control to a new, American-majority corporate entity."
"Called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, the new entity is made up of a group of investors that includes the software company Oracle. It's easy to tap "agree" and keep on scrolling through videos on TikTok, so users might not fully understand the extent of changes they are agreeing to with this pop-up. Now that it's under US-based ownership, TikTok potentially collects more detailed information about its users, including precise location data."
"TikTok's change in location tracking is one of the most notable updates in this new privacy policy. Before this update, the app did not collect the precise, GPS-derived location data of US users. Now, if you give TikTok permission to use your phone's location services, then the app may collect granular information about your exact whereabouts. Similar kinds of precise location data is also tracked by other social media apps, like Instagram and X."
When US users opened TikTok they encountered a mandatory pop-up requiring agreement to new terms of service and privacy policy before continuing. The company transitioned from Chinese control to an American-majority entity called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, backed by investors including Oracle, to comply with US government conditions. Under the new ownership, TikTok may collect more detailed user information, notably precise, GPS-derived location data if users grant location-service permission. Previously, the app did not collect precise GPS locations for US users, relying instead on approximate data like IP address or SIM-based location. A spokesperson for TikTok USDS declined to comment.
Read at WIRED
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