According to a programmer, based on what the source code contained, TikTok is effectively "legitimate spyware." Over and above the data that TikTok collects, the main contention has been that the app sends all this data to the company's head office in China.
Experian suffered a data breach affecting millions of its business and individual customers in South Africa. The company alleged that it was tricked into handing over the sensitive data.
WhatsApp has introduced a payments feature in Brazil after first testing it in India. With many people being wary of handling physical money and going into public places, the WhatsApp payments feature could prove popular.
South Africa's secret service has been collecting information and communications of South Africans without the necessary permissions. Such mass surveillance is probably unconstitutional and illegal.