Chinese-owned video streaming platform TikTok has reportedly been asking users for their iPhone passwords in order to view content, sparking concern among individuals using the app.
Reports that the platform began asking users to enter their iPhone passwords in order to watch videos on the app first began emerging in November, according to Dexerto, with the publication noting users took to social media to raise the alarm.
Yet TikTok—which is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020—has not explained the reasoning behind the need for users to enter their highly personal and sensitive information.
Dexerto noted the move coincided with security updates from Apple aimed at protecting users from password theft if devices are stolen.
The most recent iOS update on Dec. 12 effectively provides a second layer of security for iPhone users by making it harder for thieves to access important information including passwords from Apple mobile devices that have been stolen.
At the time of that update, a spokesperson for Apple told The Epoch Times, "As threats to user devices continue to evolve, we work tirelessly to develop powerful new protections for our users and their data. iPhone data encryption has long led the industry, and a thief can’t access data on a stolen iPhone without knowing the user’s passcode."
There is no clear link between the iOS update and TikTok users being asked to enter their iPhone passwords. According to technology publication Dataconomy, the issue could be due to software glitches, an update to the app, security measures or updates, or a content filter known as "restricted mode."
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Some users have managed to overcome the issue by ensuring they have the latest version of TikTok on their devices, while others have been able to bypass entering their sensitive passwords by simply pressing "cancel" when asked to enter their information, Dataconomy reports.
The Epoch Times has contacted TikTok for further comment.
The concerns regarding sensitive data requests being made on TikTok come as the platform faces a growing number of lawsuits.
A legal challenge filed by the state of Indiana alleged the app deceived users by falsely claiming the social media platform was safe for children and that users' personal information was protected. However, that lawsuit was dismissed by a county judge in November.
The state of Montana has also sought to implement a complete ban on TikTok amid safety concerns, although again that lawsuit has faced setbacks, having been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge last month.
In September, European regulators fined the platform $368 million for its alleged failures to protect children's privacy.
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Officials in Washington have also repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of the video-streaming site, noting that data on users in the United States could potentially fall into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), given that the platform is subject to laws in China requiring the company to hand any and all data in its possession over to the CCP if requested.
ByteDance has denied this is the case and says it stores U.S. user data on servers.
Still, the United States has already banned TikTok from government devices, as has Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.
Concerns have also been raised over the possibility of the app being used to spread propaganda, particularly in light of research indicating that a growing number of TikTok users now get their news from the video-sharing app, with almost a third of adults between 18 and 29 regularly using the platform for news.
Despite the ongoing safety and privacy concerns, TikTok has over 150 million American users amid a surge in popularity, according to the platform's CEO Shou Zi Chew.
