TikTok Updates Privacy Policy to Collect Precise Location Data from US Users Following New Partnership

New York. Following a new partnership between the Chinese company ByteDance and American investors, TikTok has made a significant change to its privacy policy. TikTok can now collect 'precise' location data from approximately 200 million users in the United States.

Previously, TikTok was only allowed to track the approximate location of users, but the policy has now been modified to allow the determination of the user's actual address based on device settings.

TikTok has clarified that such sensitive information will only be used in accordance with the law and that users can turn off location services whenever they choose.

This new arrangement was announced following the 'joint venture' agreement formed for TikTok's US business operations. Previously, TikTok identified locations based on SIM cards or IP addresses but did not collect GPS data in the latest version.

While such data has already been collected for the 'Nearby Feed' feature in the UK and Europe, it is stated that this will now be optionally implemented in the US as well. In addition to location, TikTok has also sought permission to collect information regarding user interactions with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, queries made, and the time and location where AI content was generated.

This agreement, facilitated by the administration of US President Donald Trump, includes major investors such as cloud computing giant Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi's MGX Fund.

Oracle is responsible for securing TikTok's powerful algorithm and the data of American users within its own cloud environment.

ByteDance's stake has now been reduced to less than 20 percent. This agreement, reached after years of security concerns and threats of bans, claims to keep the data of American users away from Chinese access and strengthen cybersecurity.