TikTok comes with new privacy policy: this is going to change

TikTok has quietly updated its privacy policy. With the new privacy policy, TikTok can legally analyze your voice and facial data, including for advertising purposes. In the update of the privacy policy, which is not yet active in Europe, TikTok writes that it also wants to collect more data about your device.

TikTok will collect biometric dataometrische

The ByteDance subsidiary’s US privacy policy was updated on June 4 with a new section for collecting biometrics, TechCrunch reports. TikTok has added a section to its privacy policy for the collection of the biometric data that specifically addresses the collection of voices and faces from your ‘User Content’.

In its Image and Audio Information section, TikTok explains that the “objects and landscapes that appear, the existence and location within an image of facial and body features and attributes, the nature of the audio and the words expressed in your User Content spoken” will identify. With the data, including data about your location, environment, voices, faces and objects in the vicinity, it will show specific content in your TikTok For You tab, TikTok wants to offer specific video effects and focuses on personalizing ads.

TikTok speaks in general about the collection of biometric identification data in the renewed privacy policy. TikTok specifically refers to ‘facial features’ and details from your voice. Why TikTok will collect ‘faceprints’ and ‘voiceprints’ from users’ content, the company does not explain in its amended US privacy policy. In addition, it is unknown how – and whether – TikTok will ask users to agree to the collection and storage of such data.

Data from connected devices

In the modified privacy policy, TikTok also makes a mention about the collection of network type used, identifiers for advertising purposes, device IDs, battery data, audio settings and connected devices. The last item in particular is causing a stir, as TikTok thereby indemnifies itself to collect data that comes from devices that are connected via Bluetooth, for example. It could also be data from smart speakers that are connected to the device via WiFi.

TikTok says in its privacy policy that this change will allow it to “use your profile information to identify your activity across multiple devices.” It is unknown exactly what data TikTok will collect through the aforementioned permission.

A TikTok spokesperson told TechCrunch that adjusting its policy “mainly should bring more openness to the data collected by TikTok.” It is not yet known whether TikTok will also release such a policy update in Europe. In Europe, the policy was last amended in 2020.