Several governments recently announced bans on using the TikTok app on government devices due to IT security concerns.
• Also read: A French priest on a mission on TikTok
• Also read: China blasts US ‘attacks’ on TikTok
According to a report by Feroot, an Ontario cybersecurity company, TikTok has your data even if you’ve never used the app.
Your information will continue to be collected and transmitted regardless of whether the app is removed or not.
“TikTok can be present on a website in almost any industry in the form of TikTok pixels/trackers,” says Feroot.
The report also argues that “in many cases, pixels/trackers begin executing immediately and have little or nothing to do with the immediate activities of the website owner”.
Websites that require password authentication may think they’re adding a layer of security, when in fact TikTok pixels collect names, passwords, security codes and other sensitive data, Feroot revealed.
Pixels transfer data across the world, including China and Russia, often before users have an opportunity to accept cookies or provide consent, according to the Feroot report.
TikTok isn’t the only platform using pixels on the web. In fact, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are also among those using tracking devices.
The company has announced that it is moving forward with “Project Texas”, which aims to secure US user data.
– According to information from ABC News