TikTok collects information three ways: what you provide, what it collects automatically, and other sources
The policy groups its collection into three channels: Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information, and Information From Other Sources. The cards that follow take each channel in turn; this overview is only the policy's own classification.
Supporting quotations
We collect your information in three ways: Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information, and Information From Other Sources.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Account information: date of birth, username, contact details and password, plus optional bio or image
When you set up an account TikTok collects what you provide, such as date of birth, username, email address and/or telephone number, and password. Adding other information such as a bio or image is optional ("You can choose").
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We collect information that you provide when you set up an account, such as your date of birth, username, email address and/or telephone number, and password. You can choose to add other information to your account, such as a bio or image.
Qualifications & exceptions
The examples are introduced by "such as" and are not stated to be exhaustive.
Bio and image are optional additions.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
User Content is collected before you choose to save or upload it, and can include clipboard content and location tags
TikTok collects the content you create, import, upload or publish (photos, videos, audio, livestreams, comments, hashtags, feedback, reviews) and its metadata, including when, where and by whom it was created. It collects User Content "through pre-loading" at the time of creation, import or upload, "regardless of whether you choose to save or upload" it; the policy gives recommending music for a video as an example. If you copy and paste content to or from the Platform, or share between it and a third-party platform, TikTok also collects content from your device clipboard (text, images, video). Location information such as tourist attractions or shops is collected if you choose to add it to your User Content. Information about you can also appear in other users' content even if you are not a user. Whether such content is visible to others depends on your privacy settings: it may be visible to other users and the public, and with a public account and unrestricted posts it can be viewed or shared by anyone on or off the Platform, and may appear on search engines, content aggregators and news sites.
Supporting quotations
We collect the content you create, import, upload or publish through the Platform, such as photographs, videos, audio recordings, livestreams, comments, hashtags, feedback, reviews, and the associated metadata (such as when, where, and by whom the content was created).
We collect User Content through pre-loading at the time of creation, import, or upload, regardless of whether you choose to save or upload that User Content, for example, to recommend music based on the video.
We also collect content (such as text, images, and video) from your device's clipboard if you choose to copy and paste content to or from the Platform or share content between it and a third party platform.
In addition, we collect location information (such as tourist attractions, shops, or other points of interest) if you choose to add the location information to your User Content.
Even if you are not a user, information about you may appear in content created or published by users on the Platform.
Based on your privacy settings, your information, including your Account Information, User Content, and Usage Information may be visible to other users and the public.
Qualifications & exceptions
Clipboard collection is stated to occur if you choose to copy and paste or share between the Platform and a third party platform.
Location tags are collected only if you add them to your User Content; separate location collection is described under Automatically Collected Information.
Visibility of content to other users and the public depends on privacy settings, as the Users and the Public passage explains.
Not stated here
The text does not say how long pre-loaded content that you never save or upload is kept.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Messages: content and metadata, including chats with sellers and virtual assistants
TikTok collects the content of messages you send and receive on the Platform and associated metadata such as send, receive and read times and participants. It also collects messages sent or received through its chat functionality when you use the shopping feature to talk to sellers or when you use virtual assistants.
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We collect the content of the messages you send and receive on the Platform and the associated metadata (such as the time the message was sent, received or read, as well as the participants in the communication).
We also collect the messages you send or receive through our chat functionality when using our shopping feature to communicate with sellers or using virtual assistants.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Contacts: phone book synced only if you choose, but other users can also supply your contact details
If you choose to sync your contacts, TikTok collects names, phone numbers and email addresses from the device phone book and matches them to Platform users. If you choose to find users through social network contacts, it collects your public profile information and the names and profiles of your social network contacts. It also collects information about the accounts you follow and that follow you. Separately, TikTok may receive contact information that you hold, or that is held about you, when contact information is synced by you or another user, or when a user provides your contact information to TikTok; that route does not depend on your own choice to sync.
Supporting quotations
If you choose to sync your contacts, we will collect information from your device’s phone book such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses, and match that information to users of the Platform.
If you choose to find other users through your social network contacts, we will collect your public profile information as well as names and profiles of your social network contacts.
We also collect information about the accounts you follow and that follow you.
We may also receive contact information that you hold or is held about you when contact information is synced with our Platform by you or another user.
or if your contact information is provided to us by a user
Qualifications & exceptions
Phone-book and social-network collection happen "if you choose"; follow and follower information is stated without that condition.
Another user's sync or submission can supply TikTok with your contact information.
When you make a purchase, payment or other transaction on or through the Platform, including buying TikTok Coins or products through shopping features, TikTok collects transaction information such as payment card information, billing, delivery and contact information, and the products purchased.
Supporting quotations
When you make a purchase, a payment, or other transaction on or through the Platform, including when you buy TikTok Coins or purchase products through our shopping features, we collect information about the transaction, such as payment card information, billing, delivery, and contact information, and products you purchased.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Surveys, promotions, support contacts (including proof of identity or age) and forms
TikTok collects what you provide if you choose to take part in a survey, research, promotion, contest, marketing campaign or event it conducts or sponsors. When you contact TikTok it collects what you send, such as proof of identity or age, feedback or inquiries, or reports of possible violations of its Terms, Community Guidelines or other policies. It also collects what you enter into forms on the Platform; you can let TikTok fill in forms automatically with account information such as addresses or payment information.
Supporting quotations
We collect Information You Provide if you choose to participate in a survey, research, promotion, contest, marketing campaign, or event conducted or sponsored by us.
When you contact us, we collect the information you send us, such as proof of identity or age, feedback or inquiries about your use of the Platform or information about possible violations of our
We collect the Information You Provide when you fill in a form on the Platform. You can let TikTok fill in forms automatically with your account info, like your addresses or payment info.
Not stated here
The linked Terms, Community Guidelines and other policies are not supplied in this document.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Technical information: device details, keystroke patterns or rhythms, IP address, cross-device identification
TikTok automatically collects device and network information when you access the Platform: device model, operating system, keystroke patterns or rhythms, IP address, system language and device settings, plus service-related, diagnostic and performance information such as crash reports and performance logs. It assigns a device ID and user ID automatically. Where you log in from multiple devices, TikTok uses the device ID and user ID to identify your activity across devices, stated purposes being a seamless log-in experience and security.
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This information includes your device model, operating system, keystroke patterns or rhythms, IP address, system language and device settings.
We also collect service-related, diagnostic, performance information, including crash reports and performance logs.
We automatically assign you a device ID and user ID.
Where you log-in from multiple devices, we use information such as your device ID and user ID to identify your activity across devices to give you a seamless log-in experience and for security purposes.
Qualifications & exceptions
Cross-device identification is stated for a seamless log-in experience and for security purposes.
TikTok automatically collects approximate location (country, state or city) derived from technical information such as SIM card and IP address. Where you enable location services for the TikTok app in your device settings, it collects approximate or precise location from your device. So approximate location does not depend on the device setting, while device-level location depends on you enabling it.
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We automatically collect information about your approximate location (e.g. country, state, or city) based on your Technical Information (such as SIM card and IP address).
Also, where you enable location services for the TikTok app within your device settings, we collect approximate or precise location information from your device.
Qualifications & exceptions
Device-based approximate or precise location is conditional on you enabling location services for the app.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Usage information: interactions with content and ads, duration, engagement, search history and in-app browser activity
TikTok collects how you engage with the Platform: how you interact with content and ads, the duration and frequency of use, your engagement with other users and your search history. It also collects information about your interactions with websites when you use its in-app browser.
Supporting quotations
We collect information about how you engage with the Platform, including information about how you interact with content and ads, the duration and frequency of your use, your engagement with other users, and your search history.
We also collect information about your interactions with websites when you use our in-app browser.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Content characteristics: TikTok analyses your videos, images and audio, including faces and spoken words
TikTok detects and collects characteristics and features of the videos, images and audio recordings in your User Content, for example identifying objects and scenery, the existence or location within an image of a face or other body parts, and the text of words spoken. Stated reasons given are content moderation and providing special effects (video filters and avatars) and captions; these are introduced as examples ("for example") rather than a full list.
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We detect and collect characteristics and features about the videos, images, and audio recordings that are part of your User Content, for example, by identifying objects and scenery, the existence or location within an image of a face or other body parts; and the text of words spoken in your User Content.
We do this, for example, for content moderation and to provide special effects (such as video filters and avatars) and captions.
Qualifications & exceptions
Purposes are introduced with "for example" and are not stated to be exhaustive.
Not stated here
This block does not say whether faces or voices are used to identify individuals; it describes detecting presence, location and spoken text.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Cookies and similar technologies are used to operate the Platform and for marketing; consent where required by law
TikTok uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and provide the Platform (examples: remembering language preferences, not showing you the same video more than once, security) and also for marketing purposes. It says it will obtain your consent to cookie use "where required by law". The policy refers readers to a separate Cookies Policy for more detail; that policy is not part of this saved text.
Supporting quotations
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and provide the Platform.
We also use these technologies for marketing purposes.
We will obtain your consent to our use of cookies where required by law.
Qualifications & exceptions
Consent is promised only "where required by law".
Not stated here
The linked Cookies Policy is not supplied here, so cookie categories, durations and choices are unknown from this text.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Sellers, payment and fulfilment providers send TikTok payment confirmation and delivery information
TikTok receives information about you from sellers and from payment and transaction fulfilment providers, such as payment confirmation details and information about delivery of products you bought through its shopping features.
Supporting quotations
We receive information about you from sellers as well as payment and transaction fulfillment providers, such as payment confirmation details, and information about the delivery of products you have purchased through our shopping features.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Third-party sign-in, linked services and safety providers can send TikTok information about you
When you sign up for or log in using a third-party sign-in feature, the platform provides TikTok with information such as email address, authentication ID and public profile. TikTok may also receive contact information held about you when contacts are synced by you or another user. When you interact with a third-party service that integrates TikTok Developer Tools (for example logging in to another platform with your TikTok account, or using the TikTok share button on another platform), TikTok receives the information needed for features like cross-service authentication or cross-posting. TikTok may also receive information from third-party providers that it uses for safety purposes, including protecting users and content moderation.
Supporting quotations
Third party platforms provide us with information (such as your email address, authentication ID, and public profile) when you choose to sign up for or log in to the Platform using sign-in features provided by those third parties.
We may also receive contact information that you hold or is held about you when contact information is synced with our Platform by you or another user.
we will receive the information necessary to provide you with features like cross-service authentication or cross-posting.
We may also receive information from third party providers which we use for safety purposes, including to protect users on the Platform and for content moderation.
Qualifications & exceptions
The sign-in information flow is stated to occur when you choose a third-party sign-in feature.
Synced contact information can come from you or another user.
Not stated here
The text does not name the third-party providers it receives safety information from.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Additional sources: public sources, government authorities, and mentions of you in others' content or complaints
TikTok may collect or receive information about you from organisations, businesses, people and others, for example publicly available sources, government authorities, professional organisations and charity groups. It also collects information about you where you are included or mentioned in User Content, Messages, or in a complaint, appeal, request or feedback submitted by a user or third party, or where a user provides your contact information.
Supporting quotations
We may collect or receive information about you from organisations, businesses, people, and others, including, for example, publicly available sources, government authorities, professional organisations, and charity groups.
We also collect information about you where you are included or mentioned in User Content, Messages, in a complaint, appeal, request or feedback submitted by a user or third party, or if your contact information is provided to us by a user.
Qualifications & exceptions
The listed source types are examples ("including, for example").
Applies whether or not the person is a TikTok user.