After TikTok in the U.S. changed ownership, a rumor spread that its new terms of service allow the app to collect sensitive user information, including immigration status. That's true — but it isn't new. The app has tracked this type of data for a while.

TikTok's new terms of service and privacy policy, effective January 2026, have raised concerns about the app's data collection practices, including sensitive information such as immigration status and gender identity. Snopes confirmed that the claims about TikTok's new data collection practices were accurate, as the updated terms explicitly mention the collection of sensitive personal information. However, TikTok has been collecting such information since 2024. The new terms also include additional data collection practices, such as the collection of precise location data and the use of AI bots. The new ownership of TikTok, a consortium of investors including Oracle, has raised further concerns about data privacy and security.