TikTok to launch local feed that taps users' geolocation data

TikTok said Wednesday it's rolling retired a caller section provender that shows videos from adjacent businesses and services based connected users' precise geolocation data.

Users of the societal media level volition present spot a caller tab connected their app called "Local" that leads to contented related to adjacent travel, events, restaurants and shopping, arsenic good arsenic posts from section creators, the institution said successful a statement. The section tab won't look successful accounts owned by radical younger than 18, those who person a backstage relationship oregon who acceptable their privateness settings to "friends" oregon "only you," it added. 

The work is rolling retired aft TikTok drew backlash successful January erstwhile it updated its privateness argumentation to authorities that it whitethorn cod "precise determination information" from users' devices if they alteration determination services successful their instrumentality settings. Some users described specified information postulation arsenic "invasive," though TikTok's presumption noted that radical could crook disconnected the geolocation tracking successful their settings. 

On Wednesday, TikTok emphasized that sharing geolocation information is voluntary and that different apps trust connected akin accusation astir their users. 

"This attack is accordant with however galore modern apps usage determination contiguous and gives radical the prime to alteration it erstwhile they privation much relevant, section experiences, portion keeping them successful control," TikTok said. 

TikTok said that geolocation tracking is acceptable to "off" by default and, if turned on, volition lone beryllium progressive erstwhile the app is successful use. 

The societal media work rolled retired the caller privateness argumentation successful January connected the aforesaid time that it split from its anterior owner, China-based ByteDance. TikTok's caller ownership includes bundle shaper Oracle, backstage equity steadfast Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based concern steadfast MGX, which unneurotic ain a combined 45% of the company. 

Another 35% involvement successful TikTok is owned by 8 different investors, including Dell CEO Michael Dell's idiosyncratic concern office. ByteDance volition clasp 19.9% of the business, conscionable beneath the 20% ownership headdress allowed nether federal law.

Edited by Alain Sherter

In:

• TikTok