Privacy Policy

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok collects information in three ways

TikTok says it collects your information in three ways: information you provide, information collected automatically, and information from other sources. The policy then describes each in turn.

Supporting quotations

We collect your information in three ways: information that you provide, automatically collected information, and information from other sources.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Account details you provide include birth date, username, password, email, phone number and profile image

When you create an account, upload content, contact TikTok or otherwise use the Services, you may provide account information such as your date of birth, username, password, email, phone number and profile image.

Supporting quotations

When you create an account, upload content, contact us directly, or otherwise use the Services, you may provide some or all of the following information:

Account information, such as date of birth, username, password, email, phone number, and profile image.

Qualifications & exceptions

• You may provide some or all of the listed information, depending on how you use the Services.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

User content you create, import, upload or publish is collected

TikTok collects user content: comments, photographs, livestreams, audio recordings, videos and text that you choose to create, import, upload or publish through its apps and websites.

Supporting quotations

User content, including comments, photographs, livestreams, audio recordings, videos, and text that you choose to create, import, upload, or publish through our apps and websites.

Cross-references

• contrast (model-proposed): Content may be collected as you create or upload it, even if you never save or publish it — User content is described as content you choose to create, import, upload or publish, yet TikTok may collect it at creation or upload whether or not you choose to save or publish it.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Content may be collected as you create or upload it, even if you never save or publish it

TikTok may collect user content through pre-uploading at the time of creation, import or upload, whether or not you choose to save or publish it. The policy gives examples of why: to recommend audio options, provide an effect, generate captions and provide other personalized recommendations.

Supporting quotations

We may collect user content through pre-uploading at the time of creation, import, or upload, regardless of whether you choose to save or publish that user content, for example, to recommend audio options, provide an effect, generate captions, and provide other personalized recommendations.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The reasons given are examples (“for example”), not a closed list.

Cross-references

• contrast (model-proposed): User content you create, import, upload or publish is collected — User content is described as content you choose to create, import, upload or publish, yet TikTok may collect it at creation or upload whether or not you choose to save or publish it.

Data Access & Collection · Context

Information about people who are not users can appear in other users’ content

The policy states that even if you are not a user, information about you may appear in user content that users create or publish on TikTok’s apps and websites.

Supporting quotations

Even if you are not a user, information about you may appear in user content created or published by users on our apps and websites.

Not stated here

• This sentence does not say what TikTok does with such information beyond it being among the user content the policy describes.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Messages you send or receive, including shopping chats with sellers, are collected

TikTok collects the content of messages you compose, send or receive through its messaging functionality. This includes messages you send through the chat functionality of its shopping features to communicate with sellers.

Supporting quotations

Messages, including content you compose, send, or receive through our messaging functionalities, including messages you send through our chat functionality when using our shopping features to communicate with sellers.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Prompts, files and responses in TikTok’s AI features are collected

TikTok collects AI interactions: the prompts, questions, files and other information you submit to its AI-powered interfaces, as well as the responses those interfaces generate.

Supporting quotations

AI interactions, including prompts, questions, files, and other types of information that you submit to our AI-powered interfaces, as well as the responses they generate.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Clipboard text and images are accessed when you use certain functions

TikTok collects clipboard content, such as text and images, accessed through your device’s clipboard when you choose to use certain functions. The examples are initiating information sharing with third-party services and copying and pasting clipboard content into TikTok’s apps and websites.

Supporting quotations

Clipboard content, such as text and images, accessed through your device's clipboard when you choose to use certain functions such as initiating information sharing with third-party services, or copying and pasting clipboard content onto our apps and websites.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Only when you choose to use certain functions; the policy gives two examples and does not list all of them.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok also collects which accounts you follow and which follow you

The same list item adds that TikTok also collects information about the accounts you follow and the accounts that follow you.

Supporting quotations

We also collect information about the accounts you follow and that follow you.

Not stated here

• The sentence sits inside the contacts item but is not worded as depending on contact syncing or your permission; the policy does not say whether it does.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Account settings, communication preferences and your correspondence with TikTok are collected

TikTok collects your account settings and communication preferences, and the information in correspondence you send to it, including when you contact it for support.

Supporting quotations

Your account settings and communication preferences.

Information in correspondence you send to us, including when you contact us for support.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Proof of identity or age may be collected to verify an account

TikTok collects information to verify an account, such as proof of identity or age.

Supporting quotations

Information to verify an account such as proof of identity or age.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say here which documents count as proof of identity or age.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): Information is used to verify identity or age for features such as livestreams and verified accounts — The identity-and-age verification purpose relies on the proof of identity or age that TikTok says it collects to verify an account.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Answers you give in advertisers’ forms, surveys, promotions, events or contests are collected

TikTok collects information you share if you fill in advertisers’ forms on its app, or take part in surveys, research, promotions, marketing campaigns, events or contests.

Supporting quotations

Information you share if you fill in advertisers’ forms on our app, or through your participation in surveys, research, promotions, marketing campaigns, events, or contests.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

You choose whether to include sensitive information, and TikTok does not require it

TikTok says you may choose whether to include sensitive personal information in your user content or in other information you voluntarily submit, and that it does not require you to provide this type of information.

Supporting quotations

You may choose whether or not you include sensitive personal information in your user content or in other information you voluntarily submit. The type of information that state privacy laws, such as the CCPA, have identified as sensitive personal information include the following: racial or ethnic origin, national origin, religious beliefs, mental or physical health diagnosis, sexual life or sexual orientation, status as transgender or nonbinary, citizenship or immigration status, or financial information. TikTok does not require you to provide this type of information.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Covers sensitive information in user content and in other information you voluntarily submit.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

Precise location may be collected if you enable location services, which you can switch off

TikTok says it may also collect precise location data, depending on your settings. If you choose to enable location services for the TikTok app in your device settings, TikTok collects approximate or precise location information from your device. You can turn location services off from your device settings at any time.

Supporting quotations

We may also collect precise location data, depending on your settings and as explained below.

Also, if you choose to enable location services for the TikTok app within your device settings, we collect approximate or precise location information from your device. You can turn off location services from your device settings at any time.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Needs location services enabled for the TikTok app in your device settings.

Not stated here

• The text does not say whether turning location services off also stops the approximate location TikTok derives from SIM region, IP address and device settings.

Cross-references

• contrast (model-proposed): Approximate location is derived from SIM region, IP address and device settings — You can turn location services off in device settings, but TikTok separately collects approximate location from SIM region, IP address and device settings. The policy does not say whether switching location services off stops that network-derived location.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Usage information, including activity in the in-app browser, is collected automatically

When you use the Services, TikTok automatically collects usage information: how you interact with content and ads, how long and how often you use the Services, and your engagement with other users. It also collects certain information about your interactions with websites when you use its in-app browser.

Supporting quotations

We automatically collect certain information from you when you use the Services, including:

Usage information, including information regarding your use of the Services, such as information about how you interact with content and ads, the duration and frequency of your use of the Services, and your engagement with other users. We also collect certain information about your interactions with websites when you use our in-app browser.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Device, network and app details are collected automatically, including keystroke patterns

TikTok automatically collects technical information from your device, network and application: IP address, user agent, mobile carrier, time zone settings, identifiers for advertising purposes, device model, device system, network type, screen resolution and operating system, app and file names and types, keystroke patterns or rhythms, battery state, and audio settings and connected audio devices.

Supporting quotations

Technical information from your device, network, and application, including 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.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say what TikTok uses keystroke patterns or rhythms for.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Approximate location is derived from SIM region, IP address and device settings

TikTok collects location information about your approximate location based on your device and network information, such as SIM card region, IP address and device system settings.

Supporting quotations

Location information about your approximate location based on your device and network information, such as SIM card region, IP address, and device system settings.

Not stated here

• The policy ties the ability to switch location off to location services in device settings; it does not say whether this approximate, network-derived location continues when they are off.

Cross-references

• contrast (model-proposed): Precise location may be collected if you enable location services, which you can switch off — You can turn location services off in device settings, but TikTok separately collects approximate location from SIM region, IP address and device settings. The policy does not say whether switching location services off stops that network-derived location.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Places you add to your content, such as shops or attractions, are collected

TikTok also collects information such as tourist attractions, shops or other points of interest if you choose to add the location to your user content.

Supporting quotations

We also collect information, such as tourist attractions, shops, or other points of interest, if you choose to add the location to your user content.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok may collect faceprints and voiceprints from your content, seeking permission where law requires

TikTok says it may collect biometric identifiers and biometric information as defined under US laws, such as faceprints and voiceprints, from your user content. Where required by law, it says it will seek any required permissions from you before that collection.

Supporting quotations

We may collect biometric identifiers and biometric information as defined under US laws, such as faceprints and voiceprints, from your user content. Where required by law, we will seek any required permissions from you prior to any such collection.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Permission is sought only where required by law, and before the collection.
• The biometric terms are those defined under US laws.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say in which states or situations permission is required, or how it is requested.
• The support page linked from this item about how TikTok processes face and voice information is not supplied in this document.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Metadata uploaded with content, messages and AI prompts is collected and can trace content to your account

TikTok collects metadata automatically uploaded with your user content, messages or AI interactions, such as how, when, where and by whom the content was created or the message or prompt was sent. The policy says metadata may include information, such as your username, that lets other users trace your user content back to your account.

Supporting quotations

Metadata that is automatically uploaded in connection with your user content, messages, or AI interactions, such as how, when, where, and by whom the user content was created, or message or prompt was sent. Metadata may also include information, such as your username, that enables your user content to be traced back to your account by other users.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok and its service providers and business partners use cookies, pixels, SDKs and similar technologies

TikTok collects cookies and similar technologies, such as web beacons, flash cookies, pixels and SDKs, that it and its service providers and business partners use. The stated uses are to provide certain features, to measure and analyze how you use the Services, to enhance and improve the Services, to provide advertising, and to promote the Services on other websites and apps. For how to disable certain cookies, it points to its “Your Rights and Choices” section.

Supporting quotations

Cookies and other similar technologies (e.g., web beacons, flash cookies, pixels, SDKs, etc.) that we and our service providers and business partners use to provide certain features and functionalities, including to measure and analyze how you use the Services, including which pages you view most often and how you interact with content; enhance your experience using the Services; improve the Services; provide you with advertising; and promote the Services on other websites and apps.

Your Rights and Choices

Qualifications & exceptions

• The policy says only certain cookies can be disabled.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): You may be able to control some collection by refusing or disabling cookies in each browser you use — The cookies card says certain cookies can be disabled by pointing to Your Rights and Choices, where the cookie-control item describes browser-by-browser disabling and says only some collection can be controlled this way.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Signing in with or linking a third-party service lets TikTok collect your public profile and email

TikTok may receive information from other sources. If you choose to sign up or log in using a third-party service, or link your TikTok account to one, it may collect information from that service, such as your public profile information and email.

Supporting quotations

We may receive the information described in this Privacy Policy from other sources, such as:

If you choose to sign up or log in to the Services using, or link your TikTok account to, a third-party service, we may collect information from the third-party service, such as your public profile information and email.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Partners that integrate TikTok Advertiser Tools such as TikTok Pixel let TikTok collect similar information directly

Some advertisers and other partners enable TikTok to collect similar information directly from their websites or apps by integrating TikTok Advertiser Tools, such as TikTok Pixel.

Supporting quotations

Some of our advertisers and other partners enable us to collect similar information directly from their websites or apps by integrating our TikTok Advertiser Tools (such as TikTok Pixel).

Qualifications & exceptions

• Only from partners that integrate TikTok Advertiser Tools.

Not stated here

• The linked TikTok Advertiser Tools help article is not supplied in this document, so exactly what the tools collect is unknown.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Sellers and payment providers tell TikTok about payments and delivery of your purchases

TikTok receives information about you from sellers and from payment and transaction fulfillment providers, such as payment confirmation details and information about the 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

TikTok may obtain information about you from affiliates

TikTok may obtain information about you from affiliates controlled by, or under common control with, TikTok.

Supporting quotations

We may obtain information about you from affiliates controlled by, or under common control with, us.

Not stated here

• The policy does not name the affiliates or say what information they provide.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok may receive information about you from others who mention you or file complaints or requests

TikTok may receive information about you from others, such as where you are included or mentioned in user content or messages, or in a complaint, appeal, request or feedback submitted to it, or where your contact information is provided to it. This ties to the policy’s statement that, even if you are not a user, information about you may appear in user content created by users.

Supporting quotations

We may receive information about you from others, such as where you are included or mentioned in user content, messages, in a complaint, appeal, request or feedback submitted to us, or if your contact information is provided to us.

Even if you are not a user, information about you may appear in user content created or published by users on our apps and websites.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok may collect information about you from professional bodies, businesses, authorities and public sources

TikTok may also collect or receive information about you from professional organizations, businesses, government authorities and others, including publicly available sources.

Supporting quotations

We may also collect or receive information about you from professional organizations, businesses, government authorities, and others, including publicly-available sources.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say which organizations, authorities or public sources, or what information they supply.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

You may be able to control some collection by refusing or disabling cookies in each browser you use

TikTok lists ways to control the information it collects. You may be able to control some of it by refusing or disabling cookies through your device’s browser settings. Because each browser is different you should follow your browser’s instructions, and you may need additional steps to refuse or disable certain types of cookies. Disabling cookies applies only to the particular browser in which you disable them, so you may need to do so separately in each browser.

Supporting quotations

You can also control the information we collect and opt out of certain activities in the following ways:

You may be able to control some of the Information We Collect by refusing or disabling cookies through your device browser settings. Because each browser is different, please consult the instructions provided by your browser. Please note that you may need to take additional steps to refuse or disable certain types of cookies. In addition, your choice to disable cookies is specific to the particular browser that you are using when you disable cookies, so you may need to separately disable cookies for each type of browser.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The choice is specific to each browser in which cookies are disabled.

Not stated here

• The policy says only “some” of the information can be controlled this way and does not say which.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): TikTok and its service providers and business partners use cookies, pixels, SDKs and similar technologies — The cookies card says certain cookies can be disabled by pointing to Your Rights and Choices, where the cookie-control item describes browser-by-browser disabling and says only some collection can be controlled this way.

Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception

Refusing, disabling or deleting cookies may make some functionality unavailable

If you refuse, disable or delete cookies, some of the functionality of the Services may no longer be available to you. TikTok adds that without this information it is not able to provide all of the requested services.

Supporting quotations

Please be aware that if you choose to refuse, disable, or delete cookies, some of the functionality of the Services may no longer be available to you. Without this information, we are not able to provide you with all of the requested services.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok currently takes no action on browsers’ do-not-track signals

Some browsers transmit “do-not-track” signals to websites. TikTok says that, because of differences in how browsers incorporate and activate this feature, it currently does not take action in response to these signals.

Supporting quotations

Some browsers transmit “do-not-track” signals to websites. Because of differences in how browsers incorporate and activate this feature, we currently do not take action in response to these signals.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated as current practice.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

Your device may have controls over what TikTok collects, such as access to your phone contacts and location

The policy says your device may have controls that determine what information TikTok collects. For example, you can control in your device settings whether TikTok accesses your phone contacts. Elsewhere it says you can turn off location services from your device settings at any time.

Supporting quotations

Your device may have controls that determine what Information We Collect. For example, you can control whether we access your phone contacts in your device settings.

You can turn off location services from your device settings at any time.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): Syncing contacts lets TikTok collect names, numbers, emails and friends lists and match them to accounts — Contact collection depends on your permission, and your device settings control whether TikTok accesses your phone contacts.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

TikTok provides a separate, limited-collection experience for users under 13 in the United States

In the United States, TikTok provides a separate experience for users under age 13, in which it says it collects and processes only limited information. The policy treats users who are 13 years old in Florida the same way, and refers readers to a Children’s Privacy Policy for more.

Supporting quotations

We provide a separate experience for users under age 13 (“Child” or “Children”) (as well as users who are 13 years old in Florida) in the United States, in which we collect and process only limited information.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Includes users who are 13 years old in Florida.

Not stated here

• The linked Children’s Privacy Policy is not supplied in this document, so which information is collected in the children’s experience is unknown.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): TikTok deletes a Child’s information collected outside the children’s experience and ends the account — The deletion commitment applies to a Child’s information collected outside the separate children’s experience described in the earlier card.