• Written by admin
• August 26, 2025
• 3 minutes

A recent study by Incogni, a data privacy firm, is raising serious concerns about the amount of personal information collected by foreign apps widely used in the United States. The research highlights how aggressively platforms such as Temu, TikTok, and Alibaba gather and share sensitive data.

According to the report, the ten most popular foreign-owned apps in the US have been downloaded an estimated 1 billion times. More than 755 million of those installs came from apps owned by Chinese companies, underscoring their dominance in the American market.

Chinese Apps Collecting the Most

Incogni’s team found that Chinese-owned apps were particularly aggressive in their practices. On average, these programs collect 18 different types of personal data from each American user, while sharing roughly six of those data points with other companies.

TikTok, which has already been under heavy scrutiny from lawmakers, stood out as the most invasive. The app was found to gather 24 separate types of user data – including names, phone numbers, and even home addresses.

Other apps also raised eyebrows:

In total, most apps in the study averaged around 15 types of data collected and 5 types shared.

The purpose of this mass data collection often ties back to targeted advertising. Companies use personal details to build in-depth user profiles that influence everything from recommended products to personalized pricing.

Incogni’s report explains that these apps may even share user email addresses with third parties, fueling the flood of spam messages in inboxes.

“Many of these apps are quietly collecting and sharing personal information like names, addresses, and approximate locations, leaving users extremely vulnerable to third-party breaches,” said Darius Belejevas, Head of Incogni.

The findings suggest that the practices go beyond marketing, opening the door to possible exploitation of data for profit or influence.

A Bigger Problem Than Just Privacy

While the privacy concerns are obvious, the report also frames this as a national security risk. By collecting massive amounts of data on US residents, these companies could provide access to foreign governments with questionable motives.

In recent years, there have been multiple cases linking large-scale data theft to state-backed actors. Incogni warns that the types of information collected—names, email addresses, physical locations—are enough to build detailed dossiers on millions of Americans.

For many consumers, the real issue is the lack of transparency. Few people realize just how much data they are giving away when they install a free shopping app or social media service.

What Users Can Do

The study closes with a call for greater awareness and personal responsibility. Users can reduce their exposure by:

• Using privacy tools like VPNs, tracker blockers, etc.
• Checking app permissions and disabling access to location, contacts, or files when not needed.
• Avoid installing multiple apps from companies known for aggressive data collection.
• Reading privacy policies—though often lengthy, they show exactly what information is being gathered.
• Only register for applications with an anonymous email address.
• Use Identity Theft Protection to ensure your data is secure

At the same time, consumer pressure and stronger regulations may be needed to rein in the most aggressive offenders.

Final Thoughts

The findings from Incogni show that foreign-owned apps—particularly those from China—are harvesting an alarming amount of information from American users. With TikTok, Temu, Alibaba, Shein, and others now part of daily life for millions, the scope of data collection is both massive and troubling.

As apps continue to dominate communication, shopping, and entertainment, users must be more cautious about the tradeoffs. What seems like a free service often comes at the cost of personal privacy. And with mounting evidence of potential misuse, this problem is no longer just about marketing—it’s about security on a global scale.

You can find the original study from Incogni HER

We want to know your thoughts on the extensive amounts of data collected by these popular foreign apps. Let us know in the comments below!

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