Does TikTok Listen To You?

Due to the various issues that are associated with data privacy, it is only natural to be in continual fear that someone would discover your private information and use it without your permission.

Here is a comprehensive blog post that will answer any and all questions you have about the famous app.”

Does TikTok Listen To You?

Well, simply put, the answer is YES, TikTok does monitor your activity and gather data from additional sources such as your contacts, GPS location, camera, IP addresses, etc.

TikTok has been using this data for targeted advertisements, offering content that is relevant to your interests, and improving overall TikTok’s algorithm. In truth, every other popular app/social media platform/social media app, not only TikTok, collects and stores data to improve user experience in general.

Now, as far as the legality of this is concerned, this is entirely legal. In fact, we consent to TikTok collecting our data when we sign up, accept the terms and conditions, or allow cookies. As a result, it is entirely lawful.

How Do I Stop TikTok From Listening To Me?

We understand that it might be really unsettling to have a casual interaction with someone about something and then have an ad about a related product/service being displayed on your screen sometime later.

It can be really alarming, therefore if you feel insecure, you should immediately remove your app’s permission to use the microphone.

Here’s how you do it:

Step 1 — Go to your phone Settings and then tap on Apps Management

Step 2 — Now select the App List option and then click on TikTok

Step 3 — Once you’re redirected to a new page, tap on Microphone

Step 4 — Lastly, tap on Deny

Other Things To Do To Protect Your Privacy

In addition to disabling the app’s access to your microphone, you can take further measures to protect your TikTok data when using the app. Let’s delve into the specifics of each of these topics:

Be Careful About Your Data

You’ll be asked a number of permissions-related questions when you first launch the app, including whether or not it can access your camera, microphone, photos, location, and so on.

Be warned that you are granting the app access to potentially sensitive information if you respond “yes” to any of these questions.

Make sure you’re not granting permission to any of your personal details that the app can use to track you down!

Switch On Your VPN

Switching on your VPN and changing your location is a tried-and-tested method of keeping your location and real identity hidden from TikTok.

This puts control over your privacy in your own hands by preventing the app from monitoring your IP address. Additionally, there are various VPN plugin chrome that you can use to easily switch between different virtual locations while browsing TikTok.

Don’t Give TikTok Access To Your Contacts

Make sure no one else has access to your list of contacts, as this is personal information and should be kept that way. It is essential that you disable TikTok’s access to your contacts.

Whether you are an iPhone user or an Android user, here are the steps to disable this:

Step 1 — Open TikTok app

Step 2 — Now, head on to your profile and then tap on the three-line menu at the top right corner

Step 3 — Next, tap Settings and Privacy then on Privacy, and finally go to Sync Contacts and Facebook Friends

Step 4 — Lastly, Toggle Off the access to contacts and Facebook Friends!

Always Keep The App Updated

TikTok regularly releases new updates, so it’s important to keep your app up-to-date in order to take advantage of any new features and solve any problems that may be harming the security of your personal information.

Therefore, make sure you are frequently visiting the app store or google play store and updating the app!

Can TikTok Watch You Through Your Camera?

When you grant TikTok access to your camera, you grant them unlimited access to your media files and camera application.

The app could conceivably keep an eye on you whenever it wants to, then. But no such proof has yet been discovered.

Even if there are indications that an app is gathering information based on your conversations, messages, etc., it is still unclear exactly what data and information TikTok is tracking.

In order to be on the safe side, you can stop TikTok from accessing your gallery and camera, but keep in mind that doing so will prevent you from shooting TikTok videos on the platform.

National Security Concerns – Is the Chinese Government Using TikTok’s Data?

TikTok is owned by a Chinese company Byte Dance and according to many sources, the Chinese government has a contract with Byte Dance that allows it to access all of the creator’s data on TikTok.

There is a probability that this is true even if there isn’t good evidence for it and the Chinese government has often refuted such claims.

In fact, given all of these suspicions and allegations, some nations, including India, have outright forbidden the usage of this short video platform within their borders.

According to Cnet, some US authorities are worried that TikTok poses a threat to national security since its parent company ByteDance might provide the Chinese government access to American data gathered by the app. They are concerned that the information could be used against Americans.

Therefore, it is impossible to immediately respond to the question, “Is the Chinese Government Using TikTok’s Data?” However, there is a possibility that this could happen, thus it is always best to only grant the platform with the bare minimum of access.

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