TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE

"We collect certain information about the device you use to access the Platform, such as your IP address, user agent, mobile carrier, time zone settings, identifiers for advertising purposes, model of your device, the device system, network type, your screen resolution and operating system, app and file names and types, keystroke patterns or rhythms, battery state, audio settings and connected audio devices."

TikTok collects highly invasive device data including keystroke patterns/rhythms, battery state, app and file names, and audio device information — far beyond what is needed for a video-sharing platform.

"We collect information about your approximate location, including location information based on your SIM card and/or IP address. With your permission, we may also collect precise location data (such as GPS). In addition, we collect location information (such as tourist attractions, shops, or other points of interest) if you choose to add location information to your User Content."

TikTok collects location data from multiple sources including SIM card, IP address, and GPS, enabling continuous tracking of user whereabouts.

"We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we update the Privacy Policy, we will notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy and posting the new Privacy Policy or providing any other notice required by applicable law. Your continued access to or use of the Platform after the date of the updated policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy."

TikTok can change its privacy policy at any time with minimal notice, and continued use is treated as acceptance — users must actively stop using the platform to reject changes.

"Advertisers, publishers, and measurement and other partners share information with us about you and the actions you have taken outside of the Platform, such as your activities on other websites and apps or in stores, including the products or services you purchased, online or in person. These partners also share information with us, such as mobile identifiers for advertising, device information, hashed email addresses and phone numbers, cookie identifiers, information regarding your interaction with ads and conversion events, and inferences related to preferences and characteristics."

TikTok receives extensive data about users from third-party advertisers and partners, and integrates advertiser tools directly on partner websites to collect data about user activity outside TikTok.

"We retain information for as long as necessary to provide the Platform and for the other purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We also retain information when necessary to comply with contractual and legal obligations, when we have a legitimate business interest to do so (such as improving and developing the Platform, and enhancing its safety, security and stability), and for the exercise or defence of legal claims."

TikTok's retention policy is vague ('as long as necessary') with no specific deletion timelines, and explicitly retains data after account removal for policy violations.

"Where you log-in from multiple devices, we use your information such as your device IDs and user ID to identify your activity across devices. We may also associate you with information collected from devices other than those you use to log-in to the Platform."

TikTok links user activity across multiple devices and associates users with data from devices they haven't even logged in on, creating comprehensive cross-device profiles.

"If you violate our Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, or other conditions or policies, we may remove your account from the Platform or User Content from public view immediately, but may keep other information about you to process the violation."

TikTok retains user data even after removing an account, and the policy lacks specific timelines for when retained data will be permanently deleted after account closure.