In violation of Google’s app store policies, TikTok collected data from Android users for over a year. It logged users’ MAC addresses, unique digital identifiers that are attached to all smartphones, and cannot be reset.
Google and Apple’s ban on the collection of users’ MAC addresses in 2015
With this violation, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance could track people even if they changed their privacy settings to opt-out of ad-tracking practices. As per Wall Street Journal analysis, the short video app collected MAC addresses for around 15 months but ended the practice with an update to the app last November.
The search giant Google had banned app developers from collecting users’ MAC addresses in 2015. Apple also followed up with the same two years later. Reportedly, Tiktok bypassed this policy by exploiting a bug. It hid its tracks with an atypical layer of encryption.
TikTok committed to protecting the privacy and safety of their user community
A TikTok spokesperson stated that they are committed to protecting the privacy and safety of the TikTok community. They constantly update their app to counter security challenges. The current TikTok version does not collect MAC addresses. The spokesperson also said that they have not given any US user data to the Chinese government and would never do it if asked.
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The Wall Street Journal report has come after President Donald Trump issued an executive order seeking to ban TikTok in the US. With this order, President Trump is looking to prohibit American companies from doing business with ByteDance. He has issued similar orders for messaging app WeChat, owned by Chinese giant Tencent.
TikTok to challenge President Trump’s executive order
Experts have said that TikTok’s data collection practices are no more intrusive than their competitors like Facebook. Also, the CIA has reportedly told the White House that there seems to be no evidence that the Chinese government has accessed the US user data from TikTok.
Experts have also expressed their doubts over the legality of Trump’s orders. They stated that the orders violate the First Amendment’s ban on government censorship. TikTok also has planned to challenge this order in court early this week.