ByteDance, the parent company behind the popular TikTok app, was recently hit with a lawsuit that claimed that it is non-consensually collecting users’ biometric data. The lawsuit alleged that the illegal data privacy breach was from the company’s CapCut app.
Yet another data privacy breach from ByteDance
For those unaware, CapCut is a video editing application that has over 200 million active users. But apparently, this platform is collecting their sensitive private information without their consent. The lawsuit was filed in Illinois and claims that CapCut is violating the state’s Biometric Information Act. This breach is from collecting data like face scans and voice prints without informing the users.
Apart from biometrics, the app was reportedly collecting other private information like user location, gender, date of birth, and even gaining access to photos and videos. The primary focus of this invasive data collection is likely in regard to targeted ads. The lawsuit adds that the app is capable of even gaining access to the MAC address and SIM serial number as well. Apparently, CapCut’s privacy policy was intentionally designed to make it harder for users to understand.
In other words, the CapCut users aren’t giving their consent in a proper manner. ByteDance is also behind TikTok, which has faced various accusations over data privacy. Some reports have claimed that it is even harvesting user data in the US, in service of the Chinese government.
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