Skip to main content

TikTok was acquiring data from Android users by tricking Google

TikTok was acquiring data from Android users by tricking Google
TikTok's Android app allegedly collected unique identifiers from millions of mobile devices for at least 15 months, which ended with the release of an update in November last year. These unique identifiers, called media access control (MAC) addresses, are primarily used to serve personalized advertisements. This new information comes to light when a few days ago, US President Donald Trump passed an order banning TickTock in the country. The app is accused of helping the Communist Party of China keep an eye on the US government.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the strategy used by TikTok to collect MAC addresses for Android users violates Google's policy. The platform, owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance, is said to have ended the strategy through an update released on 18 November.

In 2013, Apple prevented third-party app developers from collecting iPhone users' MAC addresses. Google followed that suit in 2015 and banned apps on Google Play from collecting "personally identifiable device identifiers", including users' MAC addresses and IMEI numbers. However, TikTok reportedly adopted the "secret way" and bypassed Google's ban using a different strategy.

The timing of this discovery is quite interesting because the Government of India banned TikTok in the last of June and the US is also looking to repeat the move. The order passed by the US President last week could remove the app from both the Apple App Store and Google Play as well as make advertising on the platform illegal. On the other hand, companies like Microsoft, on the other hand, are showing interest in harnessing TikTok's global operations to use TikTok's distinct presence in the market.

Comments

Post a Comment

Please do not enter any spam links in the comment box.

Popular Post

Even after unlocking the phone, it will not work without your will, follow this amazing trick

Often many people have a habit of peeping into the phones of others and in such a situation, if your phone is switched off, they can check anything on your phone. Sometimes you want them not to refuse because they are your friends or family. But if you want that even if your phone is colored, no one will be able to open anything in it without will. For this, a special feature is present in your Android phone itself and to use it you will need to follow some simple tips. This is a special feature present in Android phones In Android phones, a screen or screen has been given a feature called Pinning. With the help of this feature, no one will be able to use your mobile phone without your will. Please tell me that it is available on Android 5.0 and above. What is unique about this feature The main function of pin or screen pin is that in this you can lock or pin any app and after that, no other app other than that app will open itself on your phone until you do it yourself. So if yo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Is Available in India at an Effective Price

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is available in India with a discount of as much as Rs. 9,000 under a special festive offer, the South Korean company announced on Tuesday. The new offer is applicable on both 128GB and 256GB storage variants of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE in the country and is available through retail stores as well as the Samsung India online store and major e-commerce platforms including Amazon. The Galaxy S20 FE was notably launched in India earlier this month and went on sale just a couple of weeks back. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE price in India discounted Under the special festive offer, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is available with an instant discount of Rs. 5,000. Customers using an HDFC Bank card can avail of an additional instant cashback of Rs. 4,000. This brings down the effective price of the Galaxy S20 FE to Rs. 40,999 for the 128GB storage variant and Rs. 44,999 for the 256GB option. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE customers are also entitled to avail of a 50 percent discount on t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vivo S1 Prime launch, full of four rear camera and in-display fingerprint sensor

Vivo S1 Prime has been launched in Myanmar. This latest handset of the Vivo brand comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor and 4,500 mAh battery. The new device is very similar to the Vivo S1 Pro launched in India in January this year. Only the selfie camera setup has been downgraded. On the Vivo S1 Pro, you will find four cameras in the Diamond shape module on the backside. The rear camera setup has a 48-megapixel primary camera. Vivo S1 Prime price, availability The Vivo S1 Prime is priced at MYR 389,800 (around Rs 21,700). This price is of 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage model. The phone will be found in Z Black and Nebula Blue colors, Vivo has not said anything about launching this phone in India at the moment. Vivo S1 Prime specifications The Vivo S1 Prime with dual-SIM (Nano) runs on the Funtouch OS 9.2 based on Android 9 Pie. The smartphone has a 6.38-inch full-HD + (2340 × 1080 pixels) super AMOLED full-view display, its aspect ratio is 19.5.9. The smartphone has 8 GB RAM with ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Popular Post

Even after unlocking the phone, it will not work without your will, follow this amazing trick

Often many people have a habit of peeping into the phones of others and in such a situation, if your phone is switched off, they can check anything on your phone. Sometimes you want them not to refuse because they are your friends or family. But if you want that even if your phone is colored, no one will be able to open anything in it without will. For this, a special feature is present in your Android phone itself and to use it you will need to follow some simple tips. This is a special feature present in Android phones In Android phones, a screen or screen has been given a feature called Pinning. With the help of this feature, no one will be able to use your mobile phone without your will. Please tell me that it is available on Android 5.0 and above. What is unique about this feature The main function of pin or screen pin is that in this you can lock or pin any app and after that, no other app other than that app will open itself on your phone until you do it yourself. So if yo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Is Available in India at an Effective Price

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is available in India with a discount of as much as Rs. 9,000 under a special festive offer, the South Korean company announced on Tuesday. The new offer is applicable on both 128GB and 256GB storage variants of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE in the country and is available through retail stores as well as the Samsung India online store and major e-commerce platforms including Amazon. The Galaxy S20 FE was notably launched in India earlier this month and went on sale just a couple of weeks back. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE price in India discounted Under the special festive offer, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is available with an instant discount of Rs. 5,000. Customers using an HDFC Bank card can avail of an additional instant cashback of Rs. 4,000. This brings down the effective price of the Galaxy S20 FE to Rs. 40,999 for the 128GB storage variant and Rs. 44,999 for the 256GB option. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE customers are also entitled to avail of a 50 percent discount on t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vivo S1 Prime launch, full of four rear camera and in-display fingerprint sensor

Vivo S1 Prime has been launched in Myanmar. This latest handset of the Vivo brand comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor and 4,500 mAh battery. The new device is very similar to the Vivo S1 Pro launched in India in January this year. Only the selfie camera setup has been downgraded. On the Vivo S1 Pro, you will find four cameras in the Diamond shape module on the backside. The rear camera setup has a 48-megapixel primary camera. Vivo S1 Prime price, availability The Vivo S1 Prime is priced at MYR 389,800 (around Rs 21,700). This price is of 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage model. The phone will be found in Z Black and Nebula Blue colors, Vivo has not said anything about launching this phone in India at the moment. Vivo S1 Prime specifications The Vivo S1 Prime with dual-SIM (Nano) runs on the Funtouch OS 9.2 based on Android 9 Pie. The smartphone has a 6.38-inch full-HD + (2340 × 1080 pixels) super AMOLED full-view display, its aspect ratio is 19.5.9. The smartphone has 8 GB RAM with ...
Post a Comment
Read more