"TikTok US just launched a local feed for users to "get the inside scoop on must-try restaurants, shops, museums and events." This is done by leveraging the exact location of people that are using the app and comes after a change in the platform's terms of service that says the app can do just that. The platform's terms of service used to note that it could collect approximate locations, but the sale to US investors looks to have changed that to precise locations."
"This is an opt-in feature, despite the app potentially collecting this data whether the feed is activated or not. The feed is set to "off" by default, but can be changed via a trip to settings. The local feed doesn't show your neighbors or people you might vibe with to help solve that pesky loneliness epidemic. Instead, it prioritizes local businesses and will highlight nearby events, shopping suggestions and restaurants to try."
"However, this data is sourced from an Oxford Economics report from before a group of investors finalized a deal for the US version of the app. Supporting local businesses is a noble goal, but users will have to consider whether or not the value of a dedicated feed is worth the privacy risk. Oracle is a prominent investor in the new American TikTok, and company founder Larry Ellison once said "citizens will be on their best behavior" when they are being constantly surveilled."
TikTok US launched an opt-in local feed that uses users' exact locations to surface nearby restaurants, shops, museums and events. The change follows an update to the platform's terms of service that allows collection of precise locations instead of approximate ones. The feed defaults to off but can be enabled in settings, while location collection may occur regardless of feed activation. The feed prioritizes local businesses and events to attract small businesses as creators and advertisers and to bolster the platform's value proposition. Users must weigh the benefit to discovery against the privacy risk of precise location collection.
Read at Engadget
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