Post by : Saif Rahman

A prominent European privacy organization has accused TikTok of covertly monitoring user interactions on other mobile applications, including the dating platform Grindr. This complaint suggests such tracking occurred without explicit consent, potentially exposing highly sensitive personal information.

The complaint was lodged by noyb, short for None of Your Business. This organization has presented its case to Austria’s data protection authority, highlighting that Grindr and a mobile analytics firm known as AppsFlyer also contributed to the sharing of this user data.

According to noyb, a concerned user uncovered this unauthorized tracking after requesting a full disclosure of all data retained by various companies. The revealed information indicated that TikTok accessed data from other applications on the user’s device, including Grindr, activities on LinkedIn, and even items placed in an online shopping cart.

Privacy specialists have expressed great concern over this issue, noting that certain types of data, like those tied to sexual orientation, are safeguarded under European regulations due to the risk of discrimination or harm associated with its misuse. The organization contends that such sensitive information should only be shared with explicit and informed permission.

noyb asserts that TikTok utilized this data for targeted advertising, analytics, and security measures without the legal authority from Grindr or AppsFlyer to share it. The group further states that TikTok failed to adequately inform users about the data it collected and how it was leveraged, which violates EU privacy standards.

The privacy organization has requested regulatory authorities to investigate the situation, mandate a cessation of this tracking practice, and impose penalties if violations are verified. Representatives from TikTok, Grindr, and AppsFlyer have yet to respond.

This incident is not TikTok's first encounter with regulatory scrutiny in Europe. Earlier this year, the company received fines amounting to hundreds of millions of euros due to issues regarding the management of user data. Moreover, Grindr is currently embroiled in legal disputes in the United Kingdom related to past accusations of sharing sensitive health data without user consent.

Advocates for privacy caution that this incident underscores the challenges users face in comprehending who collects their data and the purposes for which it is utilized. They urge for stronger enforcement of regulations to safeguard individuals in an increasingly digital landscape where personal data can spread without user awareness.

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