TikTok Is Now Collecting Even More Data About Its Users. Here Are the 3 Biggest Changes | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Office ChairsBone Conduction HeadphonesBest Digital NotebooksBest Motorola PhonesTCL DealDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign InReece RogersGearJan 23, 2026 4:26 PMTikTok Is Now Collecting Even More Data About Its Users. Here Are the 3 Biggest ChangesAccording to its new privacy policy, TikTok now collects more data on its users, including their precise location, after majority ownership officially switched to a group based in the US.Photograph: Cheng Xin/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyWhen TikTok users in the US opened the app today, they were greeted with a pop-up asking them to agree to the social media platform’s new terms of service and privacy policy before they could resume scrolling.These changes are part of TikTok’s transition to new ownership. In order to continue operating in the US, TikTok was compelled by the US government to transition from Chinese control to a new, American-majority corporate entity. Called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, the new entity is made up of a group of investors that includes the software company Oracle.It's easy to tap Agree and keep on scrolling through videos on TikTok, so users might not fully understand the extent of changes they are agreeing to with this pop-up.Now that it’s under US-based ownership, TikTok potentially collects more detailed information about its users, including precise location data. A spokesperson for TikTok USDS declined to comment.Here are the three biggest changes to TikTok’s privacy policy that users should know about.TikTok Adds Precise Location TrackingTikTok’s change in location tracking is one of the most notable updates in this new privacy policy. Before this update, the app did not collect the precise, GPS-derived location data of US users. Now, if you give TikTok permission to use your phone’s location services, then the app may collect granular information about your exact whereabouts. Similar kinds of precise location data is also tracked by other social media apps, like Instagram and X.Old Privacy Policy:We collect information about your approximate location, including location information based on your SIM card and/or IP address. In addition, we collect location information (such as tourist attractions, shops, or other points of interest) if you choose to add the location information to your User Content. Current versions of the app do not collect precise or approximate GPS information from US users.New Privacy Policy:We automatically collect certain information from you when you use the Services, including ... location information about your approximate location based on your device and network information, such as SIM card region, IP address, and device system settings. We also collect information, such as tourist attractions, shops, or other points of interest, if you choose to add the location to your user content. Also, if you choose to enable location services for the TikTok app within your device settings, we collect approximate or precise location information from your device.TikTok Now Tracks AI InteractionsRather than an adjustment, TikTok’s policy on AI interactions adds a new topic to the privacy policy document. Now, users' interactions with any of TikTok’s AI tools explicitly fall under data that the service may collect and store. This includes any prompts as well as the AI-generated outputs. The metadata attached to your interactions with AI tools may also be automatically logged.Old Privacy Policy:(These AI interactions are not explicitly mentioned in the past policy.)New Privacy Policy:When you create an account, upload content, contact us directly, or otherwise use the Services, you may provide some or all of the following information … AI interactions, including prompts, questions, files, and other types of information that you submit to our AI-powered interfaces, as well as the responses they generate.We automatically collect certain information from you when you use the Services, including … metadata that is automatically uploaded in connection with your user content, messages, or AI interactions, such as how, when, where, and by whom the user content was created, or message or prompt was sent. Metadata may also include information, such as your username, that enables your user content to be traced back to your account by other users.TikTok Expands Its Ads NetworkThis change to TikTok’s privacy policy may not be as immediately noticeable to users, but it will likely have an impact on the types of ads you see outside of TikTok. So, rather than just using your collected data to target you while using the app, TikTok may now further leverage that info to serve you more relevant ads wherever you go online. As part of this advertising change, TikTok also now explicitly mentions publishers as one kind of partner the platform works with to get new data.Old Privacy Policy:Advertisers, measurement, and other partners share information with us about you and the actions you have taken outside of the Platform, such as your activities on other websites and apps or in stores, including the products or services you purchased, online or in person. These partners also share information with us, such as mobile identifiers for advertising, hashed email addresses and phone numbers, and cookie identifiers, which we use to help match you and your actions outside of the Platform with your TikTok account.New Privacy Policy:Advertisers, publishers, and measurement and other partners provide us with information about you and the actions you have taken outside of our websites and apps, including the pages you visit, products or services you purchase, and apps you download. These partners also provide information such as mobile identifiers for advertising, hashed email addresses and phone numbers, and cookie identifiers, which we use to help measure the effectiveness of ads we serve and to better deliver ads to you on our websites and apps, or through TikTok Ad Network elsewhere online, depending on your ads settings.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeIn your inbox: The biggest tech news coming out of ChinaThe real AI talent war is for plumbers and electriciansBig Story: How ICE uprooted normal life in MinneapolisDumbphone owners have lost their mindsListen: Wikipedia’s founder on the threats to its futureReece Rogers is WIRED's service writer, focused on explaining crucial topics and helping readers get the most out of their technology. Prior to WIRED, Reece covered streaming at Business Insider. ... Read MoreService WriterTopicsTikTokprivacysoftwareAppsSocial MediaRead MoreAds Are Coming to ChatGPT. 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TikTok’s recent shift in ownership and subsequent privacy policy updates represent a significant alteration in how the platform collects and utilizes user data. This expansion of data collection, encompassing precise location tracking, AI interaction monitoring, and broadened advertising partnerships, warrants careful consideration for users.

Initially, TikTok operated with a policy of collecting approximate location data derived from SIM card information and IP addresses. This approach, while offering a general understanding of a user’s whereabouts, did not provide granular, real-time location information. However, with the new policy, TikTok is now capable of tracking users' precise locations thanks to permission granted for accessing device location services. This represents a considerable increase in the level of detail the app possesses regarding a user’s physical movements and activities. Similar location tracking practices are employed by other social media platforms like Instagram and X, highlighting a trend in the industry.

Furthermore, the inclusion of AI interactions within the privacy policy signifies a new frontier for data collection. Previously, interactions with TikTok’s AI tools – such as chatbots or creative tools – were not explicitly subject to data collection. The new policy details that these interactions, including the prompts used and the AI-generated outputs, are now recorded and stored. This metadata – encompassing the context, timing, and content of the AI exchanges – further expands the scope of user data that TikTok retains. The systematic logging of these AI interactions is unprecedented and adds a layer of complexity to user privacy concerns, particularly given the increasing reliance on AI-powered features within social media applications.

Finally, the expansion of TikTok’s advertising network introduces another noteworthy shift. Traditionally, advertising was limited to targeted ads within the app itself, based on the data gathered from user activity. The updated policy now allows TikTok to leverage user data – encompassing location, AI interactions, and general behavioral patterns – to target ads across a wider range of online platforms. This extends beyond the app’s boundaries and integrates TikTok’s advertising efforts with publishers and other partners, creating a more intricately woven ecosystem of data collection and targeted advertising. The inclusion of publishers as data sources elevates the user’s digital footprint, allowing TikTok to harvest information regardless of whether the user is actively engaged with the app. This expanded advertising network amplifies the potential for data exploitation and raises questions about user privacy within the broader online environment.