TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and share short videos. The app has seen explosive growth in recent years, amassing over 1 billion active users. However, TikTok’s massive popularity has raised concerns over its data collection practices.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company. There has been scrutiny over how much access the Chinese government may have to TikTok user data. TikTok claims that data from US users is stored separately in data centers in the US and Singapore. Still, TikTok collects a significant amount of data about its users, including IP addresses, location information, device identifiers, browsing data, and more.
Recently, US government agencies like CISA have issued warnings about using TikTok due to national security concerns. There is apprehension that the extensive data collection poses risks of censorship, surveillance, and disinformation campaigns. Understanding what user data TikTok collects and how it is used is important given these concerns.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address is a unique numeric identifier assigned to each device connected to a network or the internet. IP addresses work like mailing addresses, allowing data packets to be routed to and from devices. As explained by Kaspersky, “An IP address is a string of numbers separated by periods. IP addresses are expressed as a set of four numbers — an example address would be 192.168.1.1.”
IP addresses identify devices on the internet and can also be used to determine a user’s approximate location. According to WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, “Your IP address can be used to derive your general geographic location – city and country, and sometimes postal/zip code.” This is because certain IP address ranges are often allocated to specific regions or internet service providers. However, IP addresses don’t reveal precise location or identify users individually.
Does TikTok Collect IP Addresses?
Yes, TikTok does collect users’ IP addresses according to their privacy policy. TikTok states that they collect device and network-related information such as SIM card and IP address in order to determine approximate location. This allows them to customize content like ads and recommendations based on a user’s general area (TikTok Support, 2023).
Research studies have found that TikTok captures IP addresses and uses them for ad targeting and content recommendations. A 2021 study from the University of Calgary analyzed how TikTok collects data and found IP address collection even when location services were disabled on a user’s device. The researchers concluded that TikTok harvests “massive amounts of user data” beyond what is needed to simply provide the service (Anwar et al., 2021).
While TikTok claims they need IP addresses for basic functionality, privacy advocates argue they collect much more data than necessary. IP addresses give TikTok incredible insight into users’ locations, interests and behavior for the sake of highly-targeted advertising.
How TikTok Uses IP Addresses
TikTok uses IP addresses primarily for advertising purposes and to customize content and recommendations for users. By collecting IP address data, TikTok can determine a user’s approximate location and target localized ads and content. According to TikTok’s privacy policy, they may share this location data with advertisers to enable more relevant ads.
TikTok also analyzes user behavior and engagement data associated with IP addresses to improve their recommendation algorithms. They can identify trends and popular content in different regions to serve users more relevant videos catered to their area. This allows TikTok to provide a more customized experience.
In addition, linking profiles and activities to IP addresses allows TikTok to detect and prevent some types of ban evasion or abusive behavior. They can identify if multiple accounts are coming from the same source IP and take action if needed.
While IP address collection enables better ad targeting and customization, it does raise some privacy concerns. Users have limited control over what geolocation data TikTok derives from IP addresses. Overall, TikTok leverages IP address information primarily for advertising purposes and content localization.
Sources:
https://www.netify.ai/resources/applications/tiktok
https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/10n6lgc/tiktok_ip_and_ports/
TikTok and User Privacy
There are significant concerns around TikTok’s data practices when it comes to user privacy. Unlike other major social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that are based in the United States, TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. This has led to worries that data collected by TikTok could be accessed by the Chinese government and used for surveillance or censorship purposes.
Specifically, there are concerns around how much data TikTok collects, what they do with it, and whether users have enough control over their own data. According to recent research, TikTok collects a huge amount of data from its users including browsing history, search history, location data, device information, biometric data, and content of messages sent through the app (Source).
Compared to other social media platforms, TikTok’s data collection practices are much more invasive and comprehensive. While sites like Facebook and Instagram collect user data primarily to target ads, TikTok seems to sweep up data in an indiscriminate manner without transparency around how it is used (Source). Many experts argue TikTok’s data collection goes far beyond what is reasonably expected for an app of its kind.
Overall, concerns around surveillance, censorship, and improper data use have made many question whether TikTok prioritizes user privacy. The app gathers a concerning amount of personal data, and its relationship with the Chinese government raises additional fears that data could be misused by authorities.
Protecting Your IP Address on TikTok
There are a few things TikTok users can do to better protect their IP address and maintain privacy on the platform:
One option is to use a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN routes your traffic through an encrypted tunnel, hiding your real IP address. This prevents TikTok from logging your true IP address. However, you’ll want to avoid frequently changing IP addresses, as that behavior could get your account flagged.
You can also be mindful about limiting the amount of personal information you share on your TikTok profile and in your videos. Don’t reveal details like your full name, email, phone number or home address. Also avoid geotagging your location in posts.
Finally, make use of TikTok’s privacy settings. You can control who can view your videos, direct message you, and more. Set these to the strictest level to limit your exposure. Turn off personalized ads and disable analytics tracking as well.
With smart practices like using a VPN, limiting shared info, and adjusting privacy settings, TikTok users can better protect their IP address and maintain more anonymity on the popular video app.
TikTok’s Arguments for Collecting Data
TikTok states that it collects user data for two primary reasons: to provide personalized experiences and to enable advertisers to target users effectively. According to TikTok’s privacy policy, data like usernames, device IDs, location information, and browsing history allow TikTok to “[recommend] content we think you may like” and “match you with other accounts, hashtags, or sounds that you may like.” [1] TikTok argues this type of data enables a more tailored, engaging experience for users.
TikTok also collects user data to allow advertisers to target ads and measure performance. Data points like age, gender, device, operating system, location, and interests are commonly used in digital advertising to define target audiences and optimize campaigns. [2] TikTok contends that collecting user data benefits advertisers by enabling more relevant ads, while also generating revenue to support TikTok’s platform and content creators.
While TikTok maintains data collection facilitates better products and experiences, privacy advocates argue TikTok’s data harvesting remains excessive compared to the actual utility provided to users.
[1] https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy?lang=en
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/tech/tiktok-ban-national-security-hearing/index.html
Recent Developments
In recent years, TikTok has faced increased scrutiny over its data collection practices and privacy policies. In 2021, TikTok updated its privacy policy to allow the collection of biometric data like “faceprints and voiceprints” from its users (Source). This triggered lawsuits from TikTok users concerned about violations of biometric privacy laws.
In early 2022, TikTok reached a $92 million class action settlement related to these biometric privacy concerns. As part of the settlement, TikTok agreed to obtain consent before collecting biometric data and destroy previously collected data (Source). However, TikTok still faces ongoing scrutiny from regulators about how it handles user data.
Governments have also raised security concerns about TikTok’s ties to its parent company ByteDance, which is based in China. Some countries have banned TikTok usage over data privacy fears while others are considering restrictions. This increased government attention has put pressure on TikTok to be more transparent about its data practices.
The Bottom Line
In summary, TikTok does collect users’ IP addresses as part of its data gathering practices. IP addresses can be used to determine a user’s location and identify them. While TikTok claims it collects this data for innocent purposes like security and customizing content, many privacy advocates argue it is excessive data collection with unclear necessity. Overall, users concerned about privacy may want to take precautions like using VPNs and clearing cookies when using TikTok. However, there is no way for users to completely stop TikTok from collecting some data without deleting their account. While recent developments suggest TikTok may improve its privacy practices in the future, for now, users should be aware that the app does store their IP addresses along with other data.
Sources
This article was researched and written using the following sources:
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TikTok’s Privacy Policy: https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy
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TikTok’s Transparency Report: https://www.tiktok.com/transparency
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“Does TikTok Collect Your Data?” by Sophos: https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2020/07/09/does-tiktok-collect-your-data-heres-what-we-know/
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“How TikTok Reads Your Mind” by The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/technology/tiktok-video-algorithm.html
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“TikTok Admits It Suppressed Videos by Disabled, Queer, and Fat Creators” by The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2019/12/02/tiktok-disabled-users-videos-suppressed/
Additional research was conducted using TikTok’s Help Center, news reports on TikTok’s data collection practices, and online discussions around user privacy concerns.
