Cookie Policy

Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception

Essential cookies cannot be declined or turned off

Some cookies are essential to provide the Platform and the features the user has requested. The user cannot decline or turn these cookies off afterwards.

Supporting quotations

Some cookies are essential to provide you with the Platform and features you have requested. You cannot decline or turn them off afterwards.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Applies only to cookies that are essential to provide the Platform and requested features.

Not stated here

• The policy does not label which of its example cookies are essential and which are optional.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): Essential cookies cannot be controlled by the user — The controls section repeats that essential cookies cannot be controlled, matching the earlier statement that they cannot be declined or turned off.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Optional, non-essential cookies are used based on usage and the sites visited

Beyond essential cookies, TikTok says other optional, non-essential cookies will be used based on the user's usage and the sites the user visits. It says a summary of the types of cookies it uses follows.

Supporting quotations

Other optional, non-essential cookies will be used based on your usage and the sites you visit. We outline a summary of the types of cookies we use below.

Not stated here

• The passage does not say which sites are meant by "the sites you visit" (on the Platform or elsewhere) or which cookies in the examples are optional.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Users can accept or refuse optional cookies and manage cookie settings at any time — The user can accept or refuse the optional, non-essential cookies that the policy says are used based on usage and the sites visited.

Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception

Essential cookies cannot be controlled by the user

Some of the cookies TikTok uses are essential to operate the Platform, and the policy says the user therefore cannot control their use.

Supporting quotations

Some of the cookies that we use are essential to operate the Platform. As a result, you cannot control the use of such cookies.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Applies only to cookies that are essential to operate the Platform.

Not stated here

• The policy does not list which cookies are essential.

Cross-references

• refers to (model-proposed): Essential cookies cannot be declined or turned off — The controls section repeats that essential cookies cannot be controlled, matching the earlier statement that they cannot be declined or turned off.

Data Access & Collection · Context

Blocking or deleting cookies may lose preferences and stop some functionality

The policy warns that blocking or deleting cookies may mean some of the user's Platform preferences are lost, and that blocking all cookies may mean certain functionalities on the Platform will not operate fully or properly.

Supporting quotations

Blocking or deleting cookies may mean that some of your Platform preferences will be lost. Blocking all cookies may also mean certain functionalities on the Platform will not operate fully or properly.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated as "may", so the effect is possible, not certain.
• Losing functionality is tied to blocking all cookies; losing preferences is tied to blocking or deleting cookies.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say which preferences or functionalities are affected.

Data Access & Collection · User right or choice

Browsers let users view, delete and block cookies and local storage

The policy says most browsers also let the user choose a level of privacy settings. The user can control cookie and local storage settings, such as seeing what cookies or other locally stored data exist and deleting them one by one, blocking third-party cookies, blocking cookies from particular sites, blocking all cookies from being set, or deleting all cookies and site data.

Supporting quotations

Your web browser settings

Most browsers will also allow you to choose the level of privacy settings you want. You can control your cookies and local storage settings, like:

See what cookies or other locally stored data you have and delete them on an individual basis;

Block third-party cookies;

Block cookies from particular sites;

Block all cookies from being set; or

Delete all cookies/site data.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Says "Most browsers"; the options depend on the browser.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say whether TikTok's non-cookie technologies, such as SDKs or mobile ad IDs, are affected by browser settings.

Data Access & Collection · Context

Cookies identify a browser or device and let sites store or access information on it

The policy describes cookies as small text files that let websites and apps identify a browser or device. Cookies and similar technologies let websites and apps store or access information on the device, which turns on certain features and distinguishes the user from other visitors. It says most website and app providers use them for navigation, web security, usage tracking, remembering preferences and customising the experience, especially in relation to ads.

Supporting quotations

Cookies are small text files that let websites and apps identify your browser or device. Cookies and similar technologies let websites and apps store or access info on your device.

These technologies also remember user preferences and customise the user experience, especially in relation to ads.

Qualifications & exceptions

• This is a general description of cookies as used by "most website and app providers"; TikTok's own uses are described in later sections.

Data Access & Collection · Context

The policy uses "cookies" to include SDKs, pixels, APIs, mobile ad IDs, tags and local storage

TikTok says it uses cookies and similar technologies such as software development kits (SDKs), pixels, APIs, mobile ad IDs, tags and local storage, and that this policy calls them all "cookies". Later statements about "cookies" therefore cover these technologies as well as browser cookies.

Supporting quotations

TikTok uses cookies and similar technologies, such as software development kits (“SDKs”), pixels, APIs, mobile ad IDs, tags and local storage. We call them all “cookies” in this Cookies Policy.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The list is introduced by "such as", so it gives examples.

Not stated here

• The policy does not say whether the list is complete.

Data Access & Collection · Company practice

Most Platform cookies are TikTok's own first-party cookies

Most of the cookies on the Platform are set on browsers or devices and used directly by TikTok. The policy calls these first-party cookies.

Supporting quotations

Most of the cookies on our Platform are set on browsers or devices and used directly by us. These are referred to as “first-party” cookies.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Says "most", not all; the remainder are the partner cookies described next.