The TikTok plot thickens

TikTok may have violated Google’s policies when it collected unique identifiers from millions of mobile devices, concealing them through an unusual extra layer of encryption, according to The Wall Street Journal. The app is said to have used device-specific identifiers typically used for ad-targeting purposes, enabling TikTok to track users online without allowing them to opt-out. These identifiers, called MAC addresses, can be used to build consumer behavior profiles — and can’t be reset or altered. The concealed tracking ended last November after at least 15 months of gathering data, according to the Journal.