Earlier this week, the commissioner of the FCC called for Apple and Google to remove Tiktok from their online stores after raising privacy concerns. Plus, some outlets are reporting that people should delete apps that track their period cycles after the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, because some of the apps track user data, which has caused concerns among abortion rights activists.
CBS tech reporter Dan Patterson joined The Show on KMOX to talk about how data from social media apps like Tiktok and period apps like Flo.
"It's not just women, but women in particular need to pay attention to this. Any type of health information -- no matter who you are -- that you put into an app, search results, or your search history on sites like Google and Bing, and other methods of communication," Patterson said. "But the reason is that none of these applications are protected by traditional HIPAA privacy protections. And so this means that you could be subject to search, seizure and subpoena."
As for Tiktok, Patterson said that the main reason to be mindful of the data its getting is that in China, where the app is based, there's a much closer relationship between government and private companies.
"I think you should be very, very, very cautious about installing Tiktok on your phone. This isn't just Tiktok, however. I think that apps like Facebook, here in the States, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, all slurp up data in large amounts," he said. "However, there is still regulation about how data is shared with the United States government. The Chinese government, like I said, doesn't have that same relationship with private companies."
But simply deleting an app isn't enough to get rid of your data. Patterson said that many apps store data in the cloud.
"So you can go into both the Apple Health app and check to make sure that the app did not cross save data onto your iPhone," he said. "And then you can also go into the actual phone settings to make sure that the data is not saved on the phone itself, but also go into iCloud and make sure that it's wiped from iCloud." He added, "With Android, it's a little more difficult because there as you know, different versions of Android and different versions of Android phones."
Ultimately, he said, people should find what works for them, and weight positives and negatives of having apps like Tiktok or Flo.
"You might find that the joy an app brings you is worth the privacy trade offs," Patterson said. "Unfortunately, we're all put in this really challenging binary; do we go hardcore privacy and and then not use apps that might be fun or useful? Or do we just give in and say, 'You know, what, it's all too overwhelming. I'm just gonna install this stuff.' And that's a really challenging situation that we are consumers presented with every single day."