{"id":24679,"date":"2021-06-04T05:54:19","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T05:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rbsitsoftwaresolution.com\/blog\/tiktok-just-gave-itself-permission-to-collect-biometric-data-on-us-users-including-faceprints-and-voiceprints.html"},"modified":"2021-06-04T05:54:19","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T05:54:19","slug":"tiktok-just-gave-itself-permission-to-collect-biometric-data-on-us-users-including-faceprints-and-voiceprints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbsitsoftwaresolution.in\/blog\/tiktok-just-gave-itself-permission-to-collect-biometric-data-on-us-users-including-faceprints-and-voiceprints.html","title":{"rendered":"TikTok just gave itself permission to collect biometric data on US users, including \u2018faceprints and voiceprints\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A change to TikTok\u2019s U.S. privacy policy<\/a> on Wednesday introduced a new section that says the social video app \u201cmay collect biometric identifiers and biometric information\u201d<\/em> from its users\u2019 content. This includes things like \u201cfaceprints and voiceprints,\u201d<\/em> the policy explained. Reached for comment, TikTok could not confirm what product developments necessitated the addition of biometric data to its list of disclosures about the information it automatically collects from users, but said it would ask for consent in the case such data collection practices began.<\/p>\n

The biometric data collection details were introduced in the newly added section, \u201cImage and Audio Information,\u201d found under the heading of \u201cInformation we collect automatically\u201d in the policy.<\/p>\n

This is the part of TikTok\u2019s Privacy Policy that lists the types of data the app gathers from users, which was already fairly extensive.<\/p>\n

The first part of the new section explains that TikTok may collect information about the images and audio that are in users\u2019 content, \u201csuch as identifying the objects and scenery that appear, the existence and location within an image of face and body features and attributes, the nature of the audio, and the text of the words spoken in your User Content.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

While that may sound creepy, other social networks do object recognition on images you upload to power accessibility features (like describing what\u2019s in an Instagram photo, for example), as well as for ad targeting<\/a> purposes. Identifying where a person and the scenery is can help with AR effects, while converting spoken words to text helps with features like TikTok\u2019s automatic captions.<\/a><\/p>\n

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TikTok adds auto captions to make videos accessible to hard of hearing and deaf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The policy also notes this part of the data collection is for enabling \u201cspecial video effects, for content moderation, for demographic classification, for content and ad recommendations, and for other non-personally-identifying operations,\u201d<\/em> it says.<\/p>\n

The more concerning part of the new section references a plan to collect biometric data.<\/p>\n

It states:<\/p>\n

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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.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The statement itself is vague, as it doesn\u2019t specify whether it\u2019s considering federal law, states laws, or both. It also doesn\u2019t explain, as the other part did, why TikTok needs this data. It doesn\u2019t define the terms \u201cfaceprints\u201d or \u201cvoiceprints.\u201d Nor does it explain how it would go about seeking the \u201crequired permissions\u201d from users, or if it would look to either state or federal laws to guide that process of gaining consent.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s important because as it stands today, only a handful of U.S. states<\/a> have biometric privacy laws, including Illinois, Washington, California, Texas and New York. If TikTok only requested consent, \u201cwhere required by law,\u201d it could mean users in other states would not have to be informed about the data collection.<\/p>\n

Reached for comment, a TikTok spokesperson could not offer more details on the company\u2019s plans for biometric data collection or how it may tie in to either current or future products.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, we recently updated our Privacy Policy to provide more clarity on the information we may collect,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

The company also pointed us to an article about its approach to data security<\/a>, TikTok\u2019s latest Transparency Report<\/a>\u00a0and the recently launched privacy and security hub<\/a>, which is aimed at helping people better understand their privacy choices on the app.<\/p>\n

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Photo by NOAH SEELAM \/ AFP) (Photo by NOAH SEELAM\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The biometric disclosure comes at a time when TikTok has been working to regain the trust of some U.S. users.<\/p>\n

Under the Trump administration, the federal government attempted to ban TikTok from operating in the U.S. entirely, calling the app a national security threat because of its ownership by a Chinese company. TikTok fought back <\/a>against the ban <\/a>and went on record to state<\/a> it only stores TikTok U.S. user data in its U.S. data centers and in Singapore.<\/p>\n

It said it has never shared TikTok user data with the Chinese government nor censored content, despite being owned by Beijing-based ByteDance. And it said it would never do so, if asked.<\/p>\n

Though the TikTok ban was initially stopped in the courts<\/a>, the federal government appealed the rulings. But when President Biden took office<\/a>, his administration put the appeal process on hold as it reviewed the actions <\/a>taken by his predecessor. And although Biden has, as of today, signed an executive order<\/a> to restrict U.S. investment in Chinese firms linked to surveillance<\/a>, his administration\u2019s position on TikTok remains unclear.<\/p>\n

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TikTok launches a new information hub and Twitter account to \u2018correct the record,\u2019 it says<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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It is worth noting, however, that the new disclosure about biometric data collection follows a $92 million settlement in a class action lawsuit against TikTok<\/a>, originally filed in May 2020, over the social media app\u2019s violation of Illinois\u2019 Biometric Information Privacy Act. The consolidated suit included more than 20 separate cases filed against TikTok over the platform\u2019s collection and sharing of the personal and biometric information without user consent. Specifically, this involved the use of facial filter technology for special effects.<\/p>\n

In that context, TikTok\u2019s legal team may have wanted to quickly cover themselves from future lawsuits by adding a clause that permits the app to collect personal biometric data.<\/p>\n

The disclosure, we should also point out, has only been added to the U.S. Privacy Policy, as other markets like the EU have stricter data protection and privacy laws.<\/p>\n

The new section was part of a broader update to TikTok\u2019s Privacy Policy, which included other changes both large and small, ranging from corrections of earlier typos to revamped or even entirely new sections. Most of these tweaks and changes could be easily explained, though \u2014 like new sections that clearly referenced TikTok\u2019s e-commerce ambitions or adjustments aimed at addressing the implications of Apple\u2019s App Tracking Transparency<\/a> on targeted advertising.<\/p>\n

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Apple\u2019s App Tracking Transparency feature has arrived \u2014 here\u2019s what you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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In the grand scheme of things, TikTok still has plenty of data on its users, their content and their devices, even without biometric data.<\/p>\n

For example, TikTok policy already stated it automatically collects information about users\u2019 devices, including location data based on your SIM card and IP addresses and GPS, your use of TikTok itself and all the content you create or upload, the data you send in messages on its app, metadata from the content you upload, cookies, the app and file names on your device, battery state and even your keystroke patterns and rhythms, among other things.<\/p>\n

This is in addition to the \u201cInformation you choose to provide,\u201d which comes from when you register, contact TikTok or upload content. In that case, TikTok collects your registration info (username, age, language, etc.), profile info (name, photo, social media accounts), all your user-generated content on the platform, your phone and social network contacts, payment information, plus the text, images and video found in the device\u2019s clipboard. (TikTok, as you may recall, got busted by Apple\u2019s iOS 14 feature<\/a> that alerted users to the fact that TikTok and other apps were accessing iOS clipboard content. Now, the policy says TikTok \u201cmay collect\u201d clipboard data \u201cwith your permission.\u201d)<\/p>\n

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Building customer-first relationships in a privacy-first world is critical<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The content of the Privacy Policy itself wasn\u2019t of immediate concern to some TikTok users. Instead, it was the buggy rollout.<\/p>\n

Some users reported seeing a pop-up message alerting them to the Privacy Policy update, but the page was not available<\/a> when they tried to read it. Others complained<\/a> of seeing the pop-up repeatedly. This issue doesn\u2019t appear to be universal. In tests, we did not have an issue with the pop-up ourselves.<\/p>\n

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Hey @tiktok_us<\/a> if you\u2019re going to FORCE users to sign a new privacy policy I think you should make it available to read. pic.twitter.com\/0qw9UfS8Q2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matthew Eric (@matthewericdoes) June 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Yes Tiktok, you changed your privacy policy, you only need to tell me once pic.twitter.com\/LRs7CxcNht<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dieghoe (@diegheaux) June 2, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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if i open up tiktok one more time and see that notification that they\u2019ve updated their privacy policy i might just- pic.twitter.com\/uzArIoysZW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 alli \ud83c\udf1e (@allimaemangsat) June 3, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Additional reporting by Zack Whittaker<\/em><\/p>\n

Article source: http:\/\/feedproxy.google.com\/~r\/techcrunch\/social\/~3\/YHewDwP5GJI\/<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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