TikTok lists the information it may collect: what you provide, what is collected automatically, and other sources
The policy opens by saying TikTok may collect the listed categories of information about you. The categories are grouped into information you provide, information collected automatically, and information from other sources. The word may means these are categories TikTok reserves the right to collect, not a promise that every item is collected from every user. This ROW policy carries jurisdiction-specific supplemental terms at the end that supersede the general text where they conflict for a given jurisdiction, so the collection descriptions below may be modified for Australia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Latin America, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
Supporting quotations
We may collect the following information about you:
What information we collect
Information You Provide
Automatically Collected Information
Qualifications & exceptions
Collection is stated with may: a reserved category, not a guarantee of collection from every user.
The jurisdiction-specific supplemental terms at the end of the policy supersede the general text where they conflict for the reader's jurisdiction.
Not stated here
Which categories are actually collected from a given user depends on the features that user uses; the policy does not say.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Registration collects your username, password, date of birth, email or phone, profile details and photo or video
When you register on the Platform, TikTok collects your account information: username, password, date of birth (where applicable), email address and/or telephone number, whatever you disclose in your user account, and your photograph or profile video.
Supporting quotations
You give us information when you register on the Platform, including your username, password, date of birth (where applicable), email address and/or telephone number, information you disclose in your user account, and your photograph or profile video.
Qualifications & exceptions
Date of birth is collected where applicable.
Email address and telephone number are alternatives: and/or.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok processes User Content and metadata, collects it at creation before you save, and may keep an effect-free copy
TikTok processes the content you generate on the Platform (photos, audio, videos, comments, hashtags, feedback, reviews, livestreams) together with metadata such as when, where and by whom it was created; the policy calls this User Content. Three points are easy to miss. First, information about you can appear in User Content even if you are not a TikTok user. Second, TikTok collects User Content by pre-loading it at the time of creation, import or upload, regardless of whether you choose to save or upload it, stating the purpose of recommending audio options and other personalised recommendations. Third, if you apply an effect, TikTok may collect a version of the content without the effect.
Supporting quotations
We process the content you generate on the Platform, including photographs, audios and videos you upload or create, comments, hashtags, feedback, reviews, and livestreams you make, and the associated metadata, such as when, where, and by whom the content was created (“User Content”).
Even if you are not a user, information about you may appear in User Content created or published by users on the Platform.
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, in order to recommend audio options and provide other personalized recommendations.
If you apply an effect to your User Content, we may collect a version of your User Content that does not include the effect.
Qualifications & exceptions
Pre-loading collection applies regardless of whether you choose to save or upload the content.
The stated purpose of pre-loading is audio recommendations and other personalised recommendations.
An effect-free version is collected with may, not always.
Not stated here
The policy does not say how long pre-loaded but unsaved content is kept; the retention section states general rules only.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok collects message content and metadata, including seller chats and virtual assistants, subject to applicable laws
TikTok collects what you provide when you compose, send or receive messages through the Platform's messaging features, plus the associated metadata, subject to applicable laws. This covers chat with sellers who sell you goods and your use of virtual assistants when purchasing. The collected data includes the content of the message and information about it: when it was sent, received or read, and who the participants were. The policy warns that messages you send to other users are accessible to those users and that TikTok is not responsible for how those users use or share them.
Supporting quotations
We collect information you provide when you compose, send, or receive messages through the Platform’s messaging functionalities and the associated metadata, subject to applicable laws.
That information includes the content of the message and information about the message, such as when it was sent, received, or read, and message participants.
Please be aware that messages you choose to send to other users of the Platform will be accessible by those users and that we are not responsible for the manner in which those users use or share the messages.
Qualifications & exceptions
Message collection is stated as subject to applicable laws.
Recipients can access messages you send them; TikTok disclaims responsibility for their use or sharing.
Not stated here
Which laws limit message collection in a given country is not stated here; the jurisdiction supplements may add terms.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok may read your device clipboard, with your permission, to fulfil a sharing or paste request
With your permission, TikTok may access content in your device's clipboard, including text, images and video. The stated trigger is a request you make, such as initiating content sharing with a third-party platform or pasting clipboard content into the Platform; TikTok says it accesses the clipboard to fulfil that request.
Supporting quotations
We may access content, including text, images, and video, found in your device’s clipboard, with your permission.
we access this information stored in your clipboard in order to fulfill your request.
Qualifications & exceptions
Access is conditioned on your permission.
The examples given are sharing to a third-party platform and pasting into the Platform.
Not stated here
How permission is obtained (an operating-system prompt or an in-app setting) is not stated.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Purchases, including TikTok Coins and shopping, collect payment card, billing, delivery, contact and item data
When you make a purchase or payment on or through the Platform, including buying TikTok Coins or goods through shopping features, TikTok collects information about the transaction: payment card information, billing, delivery and contact information, and the items you bought.
Supporting quotations
When you make a purchase or payment on or through the Platform, including when you buy TikTok Coins or purchase goods through our shopping features, we collect information about the purchase or payment transaction, such as payment card information, billing, delivery, and contact information, and items you purchased.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to purchases and payments on or through the Platform, including TikTok Coins and shopping features.
Not stated here
Whether card numbers are stored by TikTok or by a payment provider is not stated here; the sharing section says transaction data is shared with payment and fulfilment providers.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
If you sync phone contacts or share social contacts, TikTok collects and matches them against existing users
If you choose to sync your phone contacts, TikTok accesses and collects names, phone numbers and email addresses and matches them against existing Platform users. If you choose to share your social network contacts, TikTok collects your public profile information and the names and profiles of those contacts. Both are conditioned on your choice to sync or share.
Supporting quotations
If you choose to sync your phone contacts, we will access and collect information such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses, and match that information against existing users of the Platform.
If you choose to share your social network contacts, we will collect your public profile information as well as names and profiles of your social network contacts.
Qualifications & exceptions
Each collection is triggered only if you choose to sync or share.
Phone contacts are matched against existing users of the Platform.
Not stated here
How long synced contact data is kept, and whether non-user contacts' data is retained, is not stated here.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok sometimes asks for proof of identity or age for livestream, verified or Business Accounts, or age checks
TikTok sometimes asks you to provide proof of identity or age. The stated occasions are using certain features such as livestream or verified accounts, applying for a Business Account, ensuring you are old enough to use the Platform, and other instances where verification may be required.
Supporting quotations
We sometimes ask you to provide proof of identity or age in order to use certain features, such as livestream or verified accounts, or when you apply for a Business Account, ensure that you are old enough to use the Platform, or in other instances where verification may be required.
Qualifications & exceptions
The list ends with an open category: other instances where verification may be required.
Not stated here
What documents count as proof, and how long they are kept, is not stated here.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok collects your support or feedback correspondence and survey, promotion, contest and event information
Two further categories of information you provide: the content of correspondence you send to TikTok, including support requests and feedback, and information gathered through surveys, research, promotions, contests, marketing campaigns, challenges, competitions or events that TikTok conducts or sponsors and in which you participate.
Supporting quotations
Information in correspondence you send to us, including when you contact us for support or feedback.
Information through surveys, research, promotion, contests, marketing campaigns, challenges, competitions or events conducted or sponsored by us, in which you participate.
Qualifications & exceptions
The survey and event category applies to activities conducted or sponsored by TikTok in which you participate.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok collects how you use the Platform: content and ads viewed, search history, likes, favourites and follows
TikTok collects usage information about how you engage with the Platform: how you interact with content shown to you, the advertisements you view, the videos you watch, problems encountered, your browsing and search history, the content you like, the content you save to My Favourites, the users you follow and how you engage with mutual followers.
Supporting quotations
We collect information regarding your use of the Platform, e.g., how you engage with the Platform, including how you interact with content we show to you, the advertisements you view, videos you watch and problems encountered, browsing and search history, the content you like, the content you save to ‘My Favourites’, the users you follow and how you engage with mutual followers.
Qualifications & exceptions
The list is introduced with e.g., so it is illustrative rather than exhaustive.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok collects device and technical data, including keystroke patterns, and links your activity across devices
TikTok collects technical information about the device you use: IP address, user agent, mobile carrier, time zone, advertising identifiers, device model and system, network type, screen resolution and operating system, app and file names and types, keystroke patterns or rhythms, battery state, audio settings and connected audio devices. It automatically assigns user IDs and device IDs. Where you log in from several devices, it uses device IDs and your user ID to identify your activity across them, and it may also associate you with information collected from devices other than those you use to log in.
Supporting quotations
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.
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.
Qualifications & exceptions
Cross-device identification applies where you log in from multiple devices.
Association with non-login devices is stated with may.
Not stated here
What keystroke patterns or rhythms are used for is not stated in this block.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok collects approximate location from SIM or IP, precise GPS only with permission, and places you tag in content
TikTok collects approximate location information, including from your SIM card and/or IP address, without any permission step being described. Precise location data such as GPS may be collected only with your permission. TikTok also collects location information (such as attractions, shops or points of interest) if you choose to add it to your User Content. A support page is linked for more detail but is not part of this policy.
Supporting quotations
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.
Qualifications & exceptions
Precise location (GPS) collection is conditioned on your permission.
Tagged location collection depends on your choice to add location to User Content.
Not stated here
The linked support page about location services was not supplied and is not described here.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok, its service providers and partners use cookies and web beacons for analytics, ads on and off TikTok
TikTok and its service providers and business partners use cookies and similar technologies, including web beacons and flash cookies, to automatically collect information, measure and analyse how you use the Platform, enhance and improve it, provide advertising on and off the Platform, and measure the effectiveness of ads and other content. TikTok and its partners also use cookies to promote the Platform on other platforms and websites. Web beacons are small images or data in images that can recognise cookies, when a page is viewed, the page where the tag is placed and similar device information. The policy points to the Your rights and choices section for how to disable certain cookies.
Supporting quotations
We and our service providers and business partners use cookies and other similar technologies (e.g., web beacons, flash cookies, etc.) (“Cookies”) to automatically collect information, measure and analyze how you use the Platform, including which pages you view most often and how you interact with content, enhance your experience using the Platform, improve the Platform, provide you with advertising on and off the Platform, and measure the effectiveness of advertisements and other content.
We and our partners also use Cookies to promote the Platform on other platforms and websites.
To learn how to disable certain Cookies, see the “Your rights and choices” section below.
Qualifications & exceptions
Cookies are used by TikTok, its service providers and its business partners, not TikTok alone.
Only certain cookies can be disabled; the method is in the rights and choices section.
Not stated here
Which cookies are essential and cannot be disabled is not stated; a separate Cookie Policy was not supplied.
Data Access & Collection · Context
TikTok may receive the information described in the policy from sources other than you
Besides what you provide and what is collected automatically, TikTok may receive the information described in the policy from other sources. The following cards cover the listed sources: third-party login and linked services, advertisers and measurement partners, affiliated entities in the corporate group, other people and public sources, and sellers and payment providers. The list is introduced with such as, so it is illustrative.
Supporting quotations
We may receive the information described in this Privacy Policy from other sources, such as:
Information From Other Sources
Qualifications & exceptions
Introduced with such as: the listed sources are examples, not a closed list.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
TikTok may receive information about you from other people, complaints, shared contacts and publicly available sources
TikTok may receive information about you from others: where you are included or mentioned in User Content or direct messages, in a complaint, appeal, request or feedback submitted to TikTok, or when someone provides your contact information. TikTok may also collect information about you from other publicly available sources. This applies whether or not you are a user.
Supporting quotations
We may receive information about you from others, including where you are included or mentioned in User Content, direct messages, in a complaint, appeal, request or feedback submitted to us, or if your contact information is provided to us. We may collect information about you from other publicly available sources.
Qualifications & exceptions
Both routes are stated with may.
Not stated here
Which publicly available sources are used is not stated.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Sellers and payment or fulfilment providers may send TikTok payment confirmations and delivery details
TikTok may receive information about you from sellers and payment and transaction fulfilment providers, such as payment confirmation details and information about the delivery of products you bought through the shopping features. This is the return flow of the purchase data TikTok collects and shares when you buy through the Platform.
Supporting quotations
We may receive information from sellers and payment and transaction fulfillment providers about you, such as payment confirmation details, and information about the delivery of products you have purchased through our shopping features.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to products purchased through TikTok's shopping features.
Data Access & Collection · User right or choice
You may disable cookies in your browser, but ad opt-outs differ for apps and apply per browser or device
You may be able to refuse or disable Cookies through your browser settings, following your browser's instructions, and some types of Cookies may need additional steps. Opting out of Cookies used for targeted advertising in a browser is different from opting out of targeted advertising in a mobile app, which you may control through device settings or app permissions. An opt-out applies only to the browser or device you used, so you may need to repeat it on each one. If you refuse, disable or delete Cookies, some Platform features may stop working.
Supporting quotations
You may be able to refuse or disable Cookies by adjusting your device browser settings.
you may need to take different steps to opt out of Cookies used for targeted advertising in a browser and to opt out of targeted advertising for a mobile application, which you may control through your device settings or mobile app permissions
In addition, your opt-out selection is specific to the particular browser or device that you are using when you opt out, so you may need to opt-out separately for each of browser or device. If you choose to refuse, disable, or delete Cookies, some of the functionality of the Platform may no longer be available to you.
Qualifications & exceptions
Opt-outs are specific to the browser or device used.
Disabling Cookies may make some functionality unavailable.
Data Access & Collection · Context
Kenya: not providing requested information may limit your access to TikTok or some features
In Kenya, you will be asked for certain information described in the collection section before using the Platform or certain functions. Not providing all or part of it may limit your access to the Platform or some of its features.
Supporting quotations
Consequences for Failing to Provide Certain Personal Data: You will be asked to provide certain information (as described above under the ‘What information we collect’ section) before using the Platform or certain functions. Failure to provide all or any part of such information may limit your access to the Platform or some of its features and functionalities.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to use of the services in Kenya.
Data Access & Collection · Context
Latin America: inaccurate data can affect the Platform, and refusing data may restrict some services
In Spanish-speaking Latin America, the policy warns that wrong or inaccurate data can affect the efficiency, purpose or other aspects of the Platform, and that in some cases refusing to provide your data may restrict your use of certain services.
Supporting quotations
Providing wrong or inaccurate data can affect the efficiency, purpose, objective or any other aspect of the Platform. In some cases, if you refuse to provide your data, you may be restricted from the use of certain Services.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to use of the services in Spanish-speaking Latin America.
Restriction applies in some cases and to certain services.
Data Access & Collection · Context
Uganda: not providing requested information may limit your access to TikTok or some features
In Uganda, you will be asked for certain information described in the collection section before using the Platform or certain functions. Not providing all or part of it may limit your access to the Platform or some of its features.
Supporting quotations
Consequences for Failing to Provide Certain Personal Data: You will be asked to provide certain information (as described above under the 'What information we collect' section) before using the Platform or certain functions. Failure to provide all or any part of such information may limit your access to the Platform or some of its features and functionalities.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to use of the services in Uganda.
Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception
Uganda: you have a duty to give complete and accurate personal data when you consent to processing
For users in Uganda, the policy states that it is your duty to provide complete and accurate personal data when you give consent to processing of your personal data.
Supporting quotations
It is your duty to provide complete and accurate personal data upon giving consent to the processing of your personal data.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to use of the services in Uganda; the duty is tied to giving consent.
Not stated here
The consequences of breaching this duty are not stated.