TikTok has recently partnered with the American tech company Oracle in order to avoid a ban in the U.S. Following this change, a new update was released, making revisions to the platform’s terms of service and privacy policy. These changes allow the app to track users and gather information to an extent that was previously not permitted. This has raised concerns over surveillance and free speech in the U.S., leading to a boycott in which many users deleted their accounts out of fear of unethical data collection.
TikTok Update and Spin-Off
TikTok users in the United States have recently received a notification alerting them to updates in the app’s terms of service and privacy policy. This notification states that the app has an updated corporate identity and new types of location information. This pop-up, which must be agreed to, has raised concerns among users who are uncomfortable with their data being used to such an extent.
This update comes after TikTok recently spun off with a US company named Oracle. This spin-off was done in order to avoid a ban in the U.S., which has been battled over for the past few years. This has created a new U.S. TikTok, which is now operated by a number of investors, including the technology company Oracle.
Who Is Oracle?
Oracle is an American technology company founded in California in 1977. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Oracle provides a range of different digital solutions, such as cloud platforms and databases. Oracle has a history of controversial data collection, which has contributed to the growing concerns of TikTok users. With control over TikTok user data, many believe that Oracle will expand collection and use it for surveillance or profit.
Privacy Updates and Glitches
The update’s new privacy features have caused the most concern among users. TikTok can now track a user’s approximate or precise location, which was previously not allowed on the app. Users are able to opt out of location services, but TikTok did not highlight this in their pop-up. TikTok has also expanded its targeted advertising, utilizing user locations to increase the accuracy of ads. TikTok will now use information from third parties to gather data on users. This information will profile users based on characteristics such as race or sexual orientation.
Following the update, many users began experiencing irregularities in the app. Several people have come forward to report that their For You Pages have been glitching. Many say that these glitches often occur on content that is political in nature. Users have expressed concerns over censorship on content covering protests in Minneapolis. A number of users have stated that blocking Oracle’s account on TikTok will fix this. They believe this will reduce the company’s ability to censor content; however, this has nothing to do with the issues users have faced. TikTok claims that these glitches occurred following a power outage at a data center. TikTok has provided updates on the situation through their USDS Joint Venture X page, and it seems that the issue has been resolved.
Despite the strange occurrences on TikTok being attributed to a power outage, this new American spin-off has raised fears over the level of surveillance that users may experience. Many are worried that being owned by a separate entity may lead to censorship of information in America. Many fear that this may reduce the amount of information that reaches the American platform and leaves the American platform, isolating the U.S. from the rest of the world.
TikTok Boycott
These fears have started a boycott of TikTok, with many users deleting their accounts. According to CNBC, the number of users deleting the app has increased by 150%. Many Americans are upset about the increase in tracking on TikTok. These feeling are elevated since one of the main reasons Congress sought a ban was due to fears of surveillance. Many of the new features users are protesting were not previously allowed on the platform, such as the addition of precise location tracking.
Following the U.S. spin-off, California Governor Gavin Newsom has spoken out about the issue. Newsom has claimed that TikTok was sold to businesses that aligned themselves with President Donald Trump. He then claimed that these businesses have suppressed information critical of the President. Newsom called for an investigation on X in response to a post claiming that TikTok would no longer allow a user to send the word ‘Epstein’.
While many have decided to leave this new TikTok behind, remaining users can rest assured that new changes can be opted out of at any time. The issues users faced seem to be resolved, and the platform has returned to its normal state; however, there are still many questions about its future. Following the controversy surrounding the spin-off, users are more vigilant than ever and will be watching for changes on the platform going forward.
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