Popular video social network TikTok has been collecting unique IDs from millions of Android devices bypassing Google's privacy protections. As a result, the app has been tracking its users, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported.
According to the WSJ, the app has been collecting data from its users for at least 15 months, a practice it abandoned in November 2019.
Thus, TikTok has violated the privacy policy on Android devices by collecting the so-called MAC addresses, which are mainly used for advertising purposes.
TikTok hid this activity through an unusual additional encryption layer, violating this way Google's policy to prevent apps from spying on their users.
A Google spokesman said the company is studying the results of the study conducted by the WSJ. However, it has refused to make any statements about a possible vulnerability that would allow apps to collect the MAC addresses of users' devices.
According to a study carried out in 2018, around 1% of Android apps collect MAC addresses.
If you are looking for a crypto trading platform to trade your assets, visit Gozo.pro, a safe and reliable exchange.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to stay up to date on the latest crypto and blockchain news.