Senators Challenge TikTok Over Biometric Data Collection

TikTok's Biometric Data Collection Raises Concerns

U.S. legislators have expressed apprehension regarding TikTok’s intentions to gather biometric identifiers from its user base. They are requesting a comprehensive disclosure from the company detailing the specific information being collected and its intended applications.

Lawmakers Demand Transparency

A letter addressed to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, sent earlier this month by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD), conveys their “alarm” over a recent modification to TikTok’s privacy policy. This change permits the platform to “automatically collect biometric data, encompassing certain physical and behavioral characteristics derived from user-posted video content.”

Details of this updated privacy policy were initially reported by TechCrunch in June. TikTok stated it would seek “required permissions” to collect “faceprints and voiceprints” where legally mandated. However, the company did not clarify whether it was referencing federal regulations, state laws, or a combination of both.

Specific Questions Posed to TikTok

The senators’ letter requests a precise definition of “faceprint” and “voiceprint” from TikTok. They also seek clarification on the data’s usage and retention period.

Further inquiries include:

• Whether data is collected from users under 18.
• If TikTok draws any conclusions about users based on the biometric data it gathers.
• A complete list of all third parties with access to this data.

Increased Online Activity and Privacy

The letter emphasizes that the rise in online activity during the coronavirus pandemic has heightened the need for consumer privacy protection. This is particularly crucial for children and teenagers, who constitute over 32% of TikTok’s active users.

These younger users increasingly rely on platforms like TikTok for entertainment and social interaction with friends and family.

Response Deadline and Previous Scrutiny

TikTok has been given until August 25th to provide responses to the lawmakers’ inquiries. A company spokesperson has not yet issued a comment.

This is not the first instance of TikTok’s data collection practices facing criticism. Earlier this year, the company settled a class-action lawsuit for $92 million, alleging unlawful collection and sharing of users’ biometric data with third parties.

In 2019, the FTC imposed a $5.7 million fine on TikTok for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This act mandates obtaining parental consent before collecting data from minors.