TikTok and data protection

TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to share short videos. TikTok However, it is criticized by critics for its lack of data protection. In this Article We investigate whether the concerns are justified and what TikTok is doing to protect the privacy of its users.

What is Tiktok?

TikTok is a social media app that allows users to post short Videos create and share with music and effects. The App is developed and operated by ByteDance, a Chinese internet technology company. TikTok was released in China in September 2016 douyin released and relaunched worldwide as TikTok the following year.

How does TikTok work?

TikTok is a free app that allows users to create and share short videos. The app is developed by ByteDance and is available for both iOS and Android devices. Over TikTok users can share their videos with others or share them on other social media such as YouTube or Facebook . publish

In recent years, TikTok has grown significantly in popularity, especially among teenagers and young adults. According to Statista, there were around around the world in August 2018 500 Millions of people are TikTok users. According to the digital association Bitkom, there were around 3,5 million TikTok users in Germany.

What data does TikTok collect?

TikTok collects different types of data about its users. These include personal data like Name, Age, Gender and Email address, and location data and information about the device and internet connection. TikTok also collects activity data such as the videos you watch or download, the search terms you type, and the contacts in your TikTok contact list.
The app uses this data to personalized advertising and to better tailor the platform's content to the needs of users. TikTok also shares this information with third parties, such as advertisers or analysis services.

TikTok and data protection

In recent years, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms. The app offers its users the opportunity to create short videos with music and other effects and share them with friends and other TikTok users.

TikTok is operated by ByteDance, a Chinese company. Since TikTok is a Chinese app is, it is subject to the Laws and regulations of the Chinese state. This means that the data of TikTok users can be passed on to the Chinese government.

The Safety and privacy of TikTok users are not guaranteed. To the Privacy To protect users, they should adjust their privacy settings in the app accordingly.

TikTok and data protection: An overview

TikTok's online privacy principles are slightly different than other social ones Media. This is mainly due to the app's features. TikTok is not a pure social media platform in the traditional sense - instead you can use it as Mixture of social media and understand entertainment. Many of the features are aimed at helping users create and share short videos. This means that TikTok needs to collect some data in order to offer these features.

Privacy concerns on TikTok

Concerns about the data protection at TikTok have primarily to do with collecting user data. TikTok has received negative attention several times in the past for collecting and sharing certain types of information with unknown third parties. For example, in 2019, reports were published that the App user data to Chinese government authorities passed on. Even though there is no evidence that this was done intentionally, it is still disturbing.

Another problem is that TikTok uses user data for commercial purposes. The app collects information such as users' age, gender and location to share with advertisers. This can lead to users receiving inappropriate or intrusive advertising obtained.

Furthermore, TikTok is unregulated in many countries, which means that there are no uniform data protection regulations. This means that TikTok can continue to collect data and share it with unknown third parties without users' knowledge or ability to intervene.

How safe is TikTok?

First and foremost, it must be said that TikTok is a Chinese company. This means that the Chinese government has access to all data collected on the platform. In addition, there are many rumors about data sharing with the Chinese government. However, TikTok itself denies these rumors.

Even though TikTok officially claims that it does not share personal data with the government, it is unclear what exactly happens with the data. So if you use TikTok, you should keep in mind that your data may not be as secure as you think.

How will TikTok handle your data?

TikTok is still in its early stages, which raises questions about how secure the platform is and how it handles users' data.

There are concerns about TikTok's handling of sensitive user data. According to the Wall Street Journal, TikTok collects data about its users' cell phone numbers, locations, email addresses and biometric characteristics. This information is then passed on to Chinese government authorities. There are also concerns about TikTok Content could censor content that the Chinese government considers inappropriate.

However, TikTok is keen to maintain its image as a safe and privacy-focused platform. The app recently appointed a data protection officer and promises to protect user privacy. TikTok has also announced that it will soon open an office in Washington, DC, to work with government officials and calm their concerns.

Im February 2020 it was announced that TikTok Data to Chinese government authorities should have passed on. This issue was discovered due to a security flaw in the app. The vulnerability allowed hackers to gain access to users' accounts.

Can you delete your data on TikTok?

If you want to delete your data on TikTok, you can do so through your account settings. Go to the “Privacy and Security" and then select the “Delete Account” option. Please note that you cannot recover your account after deleting it.

Criticism of TikTok

The Chinese manufacturer of TikTok, ByteDance, is regularly criticized when it comes to the Protection the privacy of its users. For example, in August 2019 several security holes discovered that led to TikTok users being spied on and manipulated. The federal government has also been warning against the use of TikTok for a long time. The Federal Office for... Safety in Information Technology (BSI) issued a warning at the beginning of 2020, which stated: “Children and young people in particular should exercise caution due to the lack of data protection regulations in China and the unclear handling of personal data in TikTok.

Alternatives to TikTok

There are some TikTok alternatives that work a little differently and don't emphasize privacy concerns as much. Here are some of the most popular alternatives:

1. Vine
2.Instagram
3.Snapchat
4. Facebook
5. YouTube

Conclusion

After we deal with the topic Privacy have dealt with, we can come to a conclusion. TikTok is a popular app that is particularly popular among teenagers and young adults. However, the app also collects a lot of data about its users. This data is then shared with Chinese companies, which is a problem for many people. Above all, the fact that TikTok is located in China worries many users. Considering that in China the government is very strict and there is no freedom of expression, it is understandable why people are concerned. However, you should not forget that TikTok is an extremely popular app and many people like to be entertained with it. So you shouldn't talk badly about everything!

Note..is important!

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Jan Domke

Prompt Engineer | Social Media Manager | Hosting Manager | Web administrator

I have been running the online magazine privately since the end of 2021 SEO4Business and thus turned my job into a hobby.
I have been working as a since 2019 Senior Hosting Manager, at one of the largest internet and marketing agencies in Germany and am constantly expanding my horizons.

Jan Domke