TikTok Privacy: TikTok may be tracking you online even if you don’t use the app

TikTok Privacy: Experts warn that tracking technology used by TikTok can collect data about people across the internet, even without a TikTok account.

Many people believe avoiding a social media app is enough to protect their privacy. However, experts say that may not be the case with TikTok.

According to a report by the BBC, the platform collects data not only from activity within the app but also from other websites across the internet.

This means that people who have never used TikTok could still have some of their online activities tracked.

TikTok Privacy: The technology behind the tracking

The tracking happens through a tool known as the TikTok Pixel, which many websites install to measure advertising performance.

A pixel is a tiny invisible piece of code embedded in a webpage that monitors visitors’ actions. When someone visits a website that contains the TikTok Pixel, information about that visit may be sent back to TikTok.

Companies use this information to determine whether people who saw an advertisement later bought a product or interacted with a service.

However, experts say the tool can sometimes collect highly sensitive information.

Sensitive information may be shared

Cybersecurity researchers have warned that some websites unintentionally send personal details to TikTok through these trackers.

Investigations have shown that in certain cases, data sent through pixels could include information related to:

• Health conditions
• Fertility and reproductive health
• Mental health support searches
• Email addresses and other personal identifiers

Cybersecurity specialist Patrick Jackson from the privacy company Disconnect described the expanded data collection methods as unusually invasive.

Privacy researchers say such detailed tracking can allow advertising algorithms to build extensive profiles about individuals’ behaviour.

TikTok’s response

A spokesperson for TikTok says the company provides clear information about its privacy practices and gives users control over their data through privacy settings.

The company also says websites that install tracking pixels are responsible for complying with privacy laws and should not send sensitive information such as health data.

Tracking is common across the internet

Tracking pixels are widely used in the online advertising industry.

Major technology companies including Google and Meta also use similar tools to collect data about how people browse the internet.

According to the privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, TikTok trackers appear on around 5% of the world’s top websites. By comparison, trackers associated with Google appear on roughly 72% of top sites, while Meta’s trackers appear on about 21%.

How to protect yourself

Although it is difficult to completely stop online tracking, experts say there are several simple steps people can take to reduce the amount of data collected about them.

1. Use a privacy-focused browser
Browsers such as DuckDuckGo Browser or Brave are designed to block many trackers automatically. Other browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Safari also offer stronger privacy protections than Google Chrome by default.

2. Install tracker-blocking extensions
Tools such as Privacy Badger, Ghostery, or uBlock Origin can prevent many tracking scripts from loading.

3. Limit shared personal information
Using different email addresses or usernames for different services can make it harder for companies to link activity across multiple platforms.

A wider privacy debate

Privacy advocates argue that the problem extends beyond a single company.

Experts say the broader online advertising system relies heavily on collecting and analysing personal data from millions of internet users.

Some specialists believe stronger privacy regulations may ultimately be required to limit the amount of data technology companies can collect and share.

Until then, experts say users can protect themselves by using privacy tools and being cautious about how much personal information they share online.

Source: BBC.com

Also read: Google Privacy warning: People may be selling your personal information online

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