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TikTok’s Policy Mentions ‘Immigration Status.’ Here’s Why

2 min read

2/6/2026

TikTok’s U.S. privacy policy now explicitly lists “citizenship or immigration status” among the sensitive information it may process, a clause that sparked fresh questions about what the app collects and why it says so.

TikTok’s Policy Mentions ‘Immigration Status.’ Here’s Why: TikTok’s U.S. privacy policy now explicitly lists “citizenship or…

What Changed In The Policy

TikTok’s U.S. privacy policy, last updated on January 22, 2026, states that information users provide can include sensitive personal details such as racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and “citizenship or immigration status.” The policy adds that TikTok processes such data “in accordance with applicable law,” citing the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as an example. It also notes the app may collect precise location data depending on user settings and may capture content during pre‑upload to power features like captions and effects.

Why The Wording Exists

The phrasing aligns with U.S. state privacy requirements that tell companies to disclose if they collect or process categories defined as “sensitive personal information.” In California, lawmakers expanded that definition in 2023 via AB‑947 to explicitly include “citizenship or immigration status,” with changes taking effect January 1, 2024. Under the CCPA/CPRA framework, consumers have special rights around sensitive data, including the ability to limit how it’s used and disclosed. California now classifies immigration status as sensitive data, which is why it appears in detailed privacy disclosures.

What It Means For Users

Disclosure in a policy does not mean the platform is asking you to submit immigration documents or proactively tracking your status. Rather, it signals the company may encounter such details if you share them in videos, comments, forms, or surveys—and that any processing should follow applicable laws. Users can review and adjust in‑app privacy controls, including location settings, and exercise CCPA rights such as requesting information about what’s collected, asking for deletion (with exceptions), opting out of certain data uses, and limiting use of sensitive personal information.

The bottom line: the “immigration status” line reflects evolving state privacy rules and TikTok’s attempt to spell out what counts as sensitive data. It’s a legal transparency requirement—not a new request for your papers—but it’s still wise to check your settings and be mindful of what you share.