Sharing with third-party platforms at your request and facilitating independent research
TikTok uses information to share your information with third-party platforms to provide you with features, such as content sharing at your request when you integrate your TikTok account with a third-party service. It also uses information to facilitate research by independent researchers that meets certain criteria; the criteria are not stated in this section.
Supporting quotations
Share your information with third party platforms to provide you with features, like content sharing at your request when you integrate your TikTok account with a third party service.
Facilitate research conducted by independent researchers that meets certain criteria.
Qualifications & exceptions
The research criteria are stated only as "certain criteria".
Not stated here
The criteria for independent research are not stated here, and the text does not say what information researchers receive.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Service providers receive information from all three collection categories, as necessary for their services
TikTok engages service providers that help provide, support and develop the Platform and understand how it is used, with services such as cloud hosting, content delivery, customer and technical support, content moderation, marketing, analytics and payment services. It shares Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information and Information From Other Sources with them "as necessary to enable them to provide their services". All three collection categories are covered, limited by necessity for the provider's service.
Supporting quotations
We engage service providers that help us provide, support, and develop the Platform and understand how it is used.
They provide services such as: cloud hosting, and content delivery, customer and technical support, content moderation, marketing, analytics, and payment services.
We share Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information, and Information From Other Sources with these service providers as necessary to enable them to provide their services.
Qualifications & exceptions
Sharing is limited to what is necessary for the provider's services; the service list is introduced with "such as".
Not stated here
The service providers are not named.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Third-party platforms and partners receive limited information, with login, sign-up and sharing examples
TikTok shares "limited information" that may include Information You Provide, Technical Information and Usage Information with third-party platforms and partners whose services are integrated with the Platform or with whom it has a commercial relationship. The reasons given are a seamless experience, letting your content be shared on other platforms, letting sellers view and manage your orders through shopping features, and helping third parties authenticate users. Examples: if you log in to a third-party platform with your account, it shares your basic account information and any other Information You Provide; if you sign up or log in to the Platform with a third-party account such as Facebook or Google, it shares certain Technical Information to facilitate that; if you share your published User Content to other social media platforms, it shares the User Content and related information.
Supporting quotations
We share limited information which may include Information You Provide, Technical Information, and Usage Information with third party platforms and partners whose platform or services are integrated with the Platform, or with whom we have a commercial relationship.
We do this to give you a seamless experience, allow your content to be shared on other platforms, allow sellers to view and manage your orders through our shopping features, and enable third party platforms and partners to better authenticate users.
log-in to a third party platform using your account, we will share your basic account information and any other Information You Provide
sign-up or log-in to the Platform using your account details from a third party platform (such as Facebook or Google), we will share certain Technical Information to facilitate this
share User Content you publish on the Platform on other social media platforms, we will share your User Content and related information
Qualifications & exceptions
The shared information is described as "limited" and "may include" the named categories.
The three scenarios are examples ("Some examples include if you").
Not stated here
The partners with whom TikTok has a commercial relationship are not named.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Advertisers get aggregate reports only; measurement providers receive provided, Technical and Usage Information
TikTok gives advertisers reports on the performance of their ads and other content, containing aggregate information drawn from Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information and Information From Other Sources. It says it does not share information with advertisers that can be used to contact you, such as name or email address, unless you give permission. Separately, TikTok shares Information You Provide, Technical Information and Usage Information with third-party measurement providers, who create aggregate reports that help TikTok measure advertising on the Platform and help advertisers understand effectiveness and audience. The collection section defines Technical Information as device model, operating system, keystroke patterns or rhythms, IP address, system language and device settings.
Supporting quotations
These reports contain aggregate information of certain Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information, and Information From Other Sources.
We don’t share information with advertisers that can be used to contact you (such as your name or email address) unless you give us your permission.
We share Information You Provide, Technical Information and Usage Information with third party measurement providers who create aggregate reports that help us measure advertising served on the Platform and help our advertisers understand their effectiveness and their audience.
This information includes your device model, operating system, keystroke patterns or rhythms, IP address, system language and device settings.
Qualifications & exceptions
The advertiser limit covers information that can be used to contact you; it is lifted only by your permission.
What goes to measurement providers is not described as aggregate; the aggregate reports are what those providers create.
Not stated here
The measurement providers are not named, and the text does not say whether the information shared with them is identifiable.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Sellers and their service providers receive purchase information and some device or connection details
When you buy through TikTok shopping features, TikTok shares Purchase Information for the transaction with the sellers and the service providers acting for them, including order items, contact details and delivery information so the order can be processed. It also shares certain Technical Information about your device or connection with these parties to help ensure the security of the transaction. The policy tells you to check the product and seller location details on the Platform for where your information will be sent, so the destination depends on the seller.
Supporting quotations
When you make a purchase through the shopping features on our Platform, we share Purchase Information related to the transaction with the sellers and service providers acting on their behalf.
This includes order items, contact details and delivery information so that your order can be processed.
We also share certain Technical Information about your device or connection with these parties to help ensure the security of the transaction.
please review the product and seller location details provided on the Platform for information about where your information will be sent.
Qualifications & exceptions
Where the information goes depends on the seller location shown on the Platform.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Analytics services give creators, advertisers and sellers aggregated statistics; joint control in some cases
TikTok provides aggregated statistics and insights to help people and businesses understand engagement with the Platform. Examples: creators, advertisers and sellers can see counts of views, likes, comments and shares of their content and information about their followers, buyers and audience. The aggregate information is created from Information You Provide and Automatically Collected Information. In certain circumstances TikTok is a joint controller with TikTok account holders for this processing; a linked page explains the joint processing for TikTok Analytics, and that page is not supplied here.
Supporting quotations
We provide aggregated statistics and insights to help people and businesses understand how people are engaging with the Platform.
We create this aggregate information using Information You Provide and Automatically Collected Information.
In certain circumstances, TikTok is a joint controller with TikTok account holders for this processing.
Qualifications & exceptions
Joint controllership applies only "in certain circumstances", which the text does not specify.
Not stated here
The circumstances of joint controllership are in a linked page that is not supplied.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Corporate Group entities process your information for TikTok for functions such as storage, security and moderation
The Platform is supported by certain entities within TikTok's corporate group. They process Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information and Information From Other Sources for TikTok as necessary to provide functions such as storage, content delivery, security, research and development, analytics, payment services, customer and technical support, and content moderation. The policy refers to the global operations and data transfers section for more.
Supporting quotations
These entities process Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information, and Information From Other Sources for us, as necessary to provide certain functions, such as storage, content delivery, security, research and development, analytics, payment services, customer and technical support, and content moderation.
Qualifications & exceptions
Function list is introduced with "such as".
Not stated here
The group entities and their locations are not named in this block.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Users and the public: a public account can be seen by anyone and may appear in search engines
The policy introduces further "limited scenarios" in which information is shared. Based on your privacy settings, your information, including Account Information, User Content and Usage Information, may be visible to other users and the public. With a public account and posts whose visibility you have not individually restricted, Account Information and User Content can be viewed or shared by anyone on or off the Platform, with or without a TikTok account. Depending on privacy settings, Account Information and User Content may also appear on search engines, content aggregators and news sites. A linked page explains account types and privacy settings, including limiting the audience for your videos.
Supporting quotations
We share your information in other limited scenarios as follows:
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.
if you have a public account and have not restricted the visibility of your posts individually, your Account Information and User Content can be viewed or shared by anyone on or off the Platform, whether or not they have a TikTok account.
Depending on your privacy settings, your Account Information and User Content may also appear on search engines, content aggregators, and news sites.
Qualifications & exceptions
Visibility turns on account type and privacy settings, including individual post restrictions.
Independent researchers: information is shared to facilitate research that meets certain criteria
TikTok says it shares your information with independent researchers to facilitate research that meets certain criteria, which it describes in the legal-bases section.
Supporting quotations
We share your information with independent researchers to facilitate research that meets certain criteria as described in Our Legal Bases and How We Process Your Information.
Not stated here
The criteria are not stated in this passage; see the legal-bases section for how the policy describes them.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Corporate transactions: information may be disclosed to third parties in a merger, sale or change of control
TikTok says your information may be disclosed to third parties in connection with a corporate transaction such as a merger, sale of assets or shares, reorganisation, financing, change of control, or acquisition of all or part of its business. The text does not say what protections or notice apply to that information after such a transaction.
Supporting quotations
Your information may be disclosed to third parties in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, sale of assets or shares, reorganisation, financing, change of control, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business.
Not stated here
The passage does not say whether you would be notified or what limits would bind the recipient.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Legal obligations and rights: information may be accessed, preserved and shared on a good-faith belief of necessity
TikTok may access, preserve and share the information described in the collection section with law enforcement agencies, public authorities, researchers, copyright holders or other third parties if it has a good-faith belief that this is necessary to: comply with applicable law, legal process or government requests (as consistent with internationally recognised standards); protect the rights, property and safety of users, copyright holders and others, including to protect life or prevent imminent bodily harm (the example given is providing a user's IP address to law enforcement in an emergency where someone's life or safety is at risk); investigate potential violations of and enforce its Terms, Guidelines or other applicable terms, policies or standards; or detect, investigate, prevent or address misleading activity, copyright infringement or other illegal activity. The vital-interests section adds that it may use information, including scanning messages and associated metadata where permitted by law, and provide law enforcement or emergency services with information in urgent situations to protect health or life, generally Information You Provide and Automatically Collected Information depending on the situation. The policy points to separate law enforcement guidelines for how requests are handled; those are not supplied here.
Supporting quotations
We may access, preserve, and share the information described in "What Information We Collect" with law enforcement agencies, public authorities, researchers, copyright holders, or other third parties if we have good faith belief that it is necessary to:
comply with applicable law, legal process or government requests, as consistent with internationally recognised standards
protect the rights, property, and safety of our users, copyright holders, and others, including to protect life or prevent imminent bodily harm.
For example, we may provide information (such as your IP address) to law enforcement in the event of an emergency where someone’s life or safety is at risk
investigate potential violations of and enforce our Terms, Guidelines, or any other applicable terms, policies, or standards
detect, investigate, prevent, or address misleading activity, copyright infringement, or other illegal activity.
This could also include providing law enforcement agencies or emergency services with information in urgent situations to protect health or life.
We generally provide Information You Provide and Automatically Collected Information, although it depends on the specific situation.
To learn more about how we handle requests from law enforcement agencies and public authorities, see our
Qualifications & exceptions
Every disclosure is conditioned on TikTok's own good-faith belief of necessity.
Compliance with legal requests is described as "as consistent with internationally recognised standards".
Not stated here
The Law Enforcement Guidelines are linked but not supplied in this text.
What counts as the information shared in the vital-interests case "depends on the specific situation".
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Independent research: information shared with researchers who have demonstrable experience and expertise
Under legitimate interests, TikTok says it shares your information with independent researchers to facilitate research that meets certain criteria, including where the researchers have demonstrable experience and expertise in their area; a linked page about the research API is not supplied here. The interest relied upon is facilitating independent research that aims to develop society's collective knowledge, including in the areas of misinformation and disinformation, violence, cybercrime and social trends. The information used is Information You Provide and Automatically Collected Information, so Information From Other Sources is not listed for this purpose.
Supporting quotations
Facilitate independent research.
We share your information with independent researchers to facilitate research that meets certain criteria, including where such researchers have demonstrable experience and expertise in their area.
To facilitate independent research that aims to develop society’s collective knowledge, including in the areas of misinformation and disinformation, violence, cybercrime, and social trends.
Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information.
Qualifications & exceptions
The criteria are only partly stated ("including" demonstrable experience and expertise).
Not stated here
The remaining criteria and the specific data fields researchers receive are not stated here.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Sharing with third parties whose platforms or services are integrated with the Platform
Under legitimate interests, TikTok says it shares your information with third parties whose platforms or services are integrated with, or otherwise made available on, the Platform. The interest relied upon is optimising your experience, allowing your content to be shared on other platforms, enabling third parties to authenticate users, and allowing for the performance of commercial agreements. The information used is Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information and Information From Other Sources.
Supporting quotations
Share your information with third parties.
We share your information with third parties whose platforms or services are integrated with, or otherwise made available on, the Platform.
To optimise your experience, allow your content to be shared on other platforms, enable third parties to authenticate users, and to allow for the performance of commercial agreements.
Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information, and Information From Other Sources.
Not stated here
The third parties are not named, and this item does not say how much information is shared; the Partners section describes sharing as limited.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Global operations: storage in the US, Malaysia and Singapore, group remote access, third parties abroad
To support global operations, TikTok stores the information described in the collection section in servers located in the United States, Malaysia and Singapore. Certain Corporate Group entities located outside your country of residence are given limited remote access so they can provide certain functions; TikTok describes this access as limited, secure and only granted where necessary under strict security controls and authorisation approval protocols. TikTok also shares the collected information with service providers, partners and other third parties as described in the sharing section, and these third parties can be located outside your country of residence. The policy says these entities commit to processing information in compliance with applicable privacy laws and to implementing appropriate security measures.
Supporting quotations
To support our global operations:
We store the information described in the “What Information We Collect” section in servers located in the United States, Malaysia and Singapore.
Certain entities in our Corporate Group, located outside your country of residence
This access is limited, secure and only granted where necessary under strict security controls and authorisation approval protocols.
We share “What Information We Collect” with service providers, partners and other third party entities, as described in “How We Share Your Information”. These third parties can be located outside your country of residence.
These entities commit to processing information in compliance with applicable privacy laws and to implementing appropriate security measures to protect your information.
Qualifications & exceptions
Group entity access is described as limited remote access for certain functions.
The commitment to comply with privacy laws is stated for "these entities"; the text does not describe how it is enforced.
Not stated here
The linked list of transferee countries is not supplied here.