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its not about their official data collection. It is a safe assumption that TikTok app is used to spy on targeted users and their surroundings, just google it.

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Ok but both Android and iOS have a good permission system where location and other data access can be highly controlled. Isn't it more prudent that the app be restricted by the OS to not have permissions it does not require? Surely the US can enforce something like that.

You don't need to directly tap that information from the phone if you have enough variety of video and an algorithm that will identify and converge on micro-genres of video based on watch time, likes, and shares.

Aside from that, Tik-Tok Shop is also a thing. So elements of the application exist where you volunteer data like location.

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