Is CapCut Safe to Use? A Look at Data Collection and Privacy Concerns

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Written by: Alex Popa

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Is CapCut Safe to Use? A Look at Data Collection and Privacy Concerns

This depends on your definition of “safe.”

Does CapCut steal your data and sell it on the black market? No, it doesn’t.

Is CapCut malware, and will it infect your device? Also no.

Does CapCut collect your data and share it with related apps and companies? Yes.

If you value your privacy and don’t want CapCut to access your personal information, then CapCut is “not safe” per that definition.

Keep reading to learn more about the type of data that CapCut collects about its users!

Summary: The safety of CapCut depends on your definition of “safe.” CapCut does not steal your data or infect your device with malware, but it does collect and share your data with related apps and companies. 

CapCut was developed by ByteDance, the same company that owns TikTok. 

The article explains the type of data that CapCut collects from its users and how it uses this information. 

While the app is not malware and does not steal your information, it may share your data with third parties in partnership with them. In terms of privacy, CapCut may not be considered safe.

CapCut Origins

Originally, CapCut was released in 2019 in China under Jianying and was developed by ByteDance, the same company that owns TikTok.

It was further renamed CapCut and released to the rest of the world in 2020. That’s when CapCut started becoming extremely popular among video editors and regular TikTok users.

ByteDance also owns the following companies:

  • Toutlao
  • Terark
  • Moonton
  • LevelUpAI
  • News Republic Inc.
  • Flipagram Inc.

ByteDance’s controversial history regarding data collection and transmission might make you rethink using CapCut, but otherwise, the app is perfectly safe.

Data Collection

CapCut collects the following data from you:

  • Information when you register for an account or even without an account
  • Information when you upload content to the platform
  • Information when you use the services
  • Automated information collection when you access or use the platform
  • Technical and behavioral information about your interaction with the services
  • Information about the images, videos, and video templates you upload on the app
  • Identification information about the objects, scenery, and words spoken in the content uploaded on the app
  • The nature of the audio, the existence and location of a human face in the video

Essentially, they’ll use this information to improve their services and provide you with an excellent experience on their app.

However, they may share your information with third-party services in partnership with them.

CapCut will also disclose your personal information if law enforcement agencies request it.

Regarding the data retention period, CapCut reserves the right to retain your data for as long as necessary.

This is how CapCut uses your information:

  • To verify your identity and age
  • To offer you user support
  • To enforce their policies, conditions, and terms
  • To detect fraud, abuse, and other illegal activities, as well as to ensure your safety by reviewing user content and messages
  • To administer and provide the services (edit, modify and create content)
  • To respond to user queries or requests, complaints, or other feedback from users
  • To offer personalized information or content that may interest you
  • To transfer to other third parties (business partners, service providers, and governmental authorities)
  • To comply with the laws, regulations, guidelines, and codes of practice, as well as to assist the law enforcement conducted by a law enforcement agency

By now, you should know that every platform and app collects information, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that CapCut collects the information it collects.

Conclusion

In short, CapCut is both safe and unsafe. It’s not malware; it doesn’t steal your information or hacks your device.

However, it does collect information about you, the way you use the app, the content you upload and edit, and much more.

That information may be shared with TikTok and other third parties in partnership with them. So, in terms of privacy, CapCut is not safe.

If you have questions, leave a comment below, and I’ll try to help!

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Alex Popa

My name is Alex and I have a knack for social media in all its shapes and forms. I’ve dealt with such things for quite some time and I noticed that many people have issues with social media and technicalities.

Unforeseen errors, bugs, and other problems make their use of social media problematic. These things will be discussed amply in the guides on Whizcase.

I'll present the facts as they are, and offer quick and easy solutions for them.

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