Why is TikTok collecting precise location data in the US, and what does the new joint venture mean for American users’ privacy?
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| TikTok’s new US joint venture lets users share precise location data and expands AI data collection, sparking scrutiny from lawmakers over ByteDance’s involvement. Image: CH |
New York, USA — January 25, 2026:
TikTok’s US joint venture has updated its privacy policy to allow the collection of precise location data from nearly 200 million American users, a move that comes alongside the company’s restructured ownership in the United States. While ByteDance retains a minority stake of just under 20%, US investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX now have operational oversight.
The policy change, which replaces the previous “approximate” location limit, is optional and off by default, requiring users to opt in through a pop-up prompt. TikTok emphasized that sensitive personal data will continue to be handled under applicable law, and location sharing can be disabled through device settings. Similar features already operate in the UK and Europe through TikTok’s “Nearby Feed.”
In addition to location data, the joint venture expands collection on AI interactions, including prompts, questions, and user-generated AI content. Oracle will manage the retraining of the recommendation algorithm on secure US cloud infrastructure, aiming to increase domestic control over TikTok’s content recommendations.
Despite these measures, lawmakers in Washington remain concerned about ByteDance’s lingering involvement and whether American user data is fully protected. Privacy advocates may also see the combination of precise location tracking and AI data collection as a new challenge for digital privacy standards in the United States.
TikTok is attempting to balance innovation, US-based oversight, and user privacy—but scrutiny from both regulators and users is likely to remain high as the platform rolls out these new capabilities.