That doesn't seem anywhere near equivalent to Google & Facebook's privacy issues. They stalk literally everyone over the entire Internet. I don't have Tiktok on my phone (or at all) so I'm pretty sure they're not stalking me. So I disagree with the OP, Tiktok's privacy violations are not as bad as Facebook's.

I guess the difference is, if you don't install or use TikTok they don't track you. Whereas with FB, rven if you don't have a FB account, they still track you across the Internet.

It's one thing if you actively use the service. One could even argue that this might be the payment for using the service (I don't agree with that argument, but it has some merit at least).

The problem with Facebook and Google is that they've got their spyware littered across most websites and third-party apps, so you get stalked even if you do not use FB/Google nor ever read/agreed to their ToS/privacy policy.

What if I don't have TikTok installed and never have?

Why do you use tiktok on a phone and expect privacy. Your phone spys on you.