After a TikTok ban in the US, phones and iPads with the TikTok app already installed are being sold, and it seems some people are buying them. Experts warn this could lead to security problems.
Even though it might not seem like it, TikTok is banned in the United States. A law banning the app took effect on January 19, causing it to briefly go offline in the US. However, President Donald Trump issued an executive order giving TikTok a 75-day extension.
But Trump's order doesn't actually overturn the ban. Instead, it instructs the US attorney general not to enforce the law for now. This has led some key organizations to remain cautious, including the app stores that allow users to download it. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act makes it illegal for app stores and internet hosting services to enable the distribution, maintenance, or updates of TikTok.
So far, Apple and Google are complying. In other words, you can still use TikTok if it's already downloaded on your device. If not, you're out of luck.
This situation has led some people to see an opportunity. Across the US, people on online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, and others are listing used phones with the TikTok app preinstalled—often for very high prices. In some cases, they are asking for amounts similar to what you'd pay for a new car. You can buy one if you have the money. The only question is how much of your digital security you're willing to risk.
Some people see a chance to make money. One eBay seller, who spoke to the BBC anonymously, is offering a Samsung Galaxy Note9. It's an older model that would typically sell for around $250 (about £200). However, with the TikTok app installed, the seller is asking for $50,000 (£40,145). The price is negotiable, though. "The lowest I'll go is $15,000," the seller says. So far, there haven't been any bids.
For bad actors, selling a phone that someone will use all day without wiping it first is a dream. These devices could have anything loaded on them. On TikTok, several American users have posted videos encouraging others to sell old devices with the app installed, promising big paydays. A Facebook Marketplace seller in New York says the videos inspired him. "I don't know if the app is really getting banned, but I'm going to try to get something from it," the seller says. His admittedly ancient iPhone is also priced at $50,000. "I did it to see if I get lucky," he says.
Do a simple search on an online marketplace, and you'll find countless iPhones, iPads, and Android devices with TikTok for sale at similar prices. It's unlikely anyone will pay five figures, but many have sold for more reasonable amounts, according to a search of completed items on eBay. In most cases, phones with TikTok installed aren't selling for more than their usual price, ranging from a few hundred to just over $1,000, depending on the model. It's also important to remember that completed listings shouldn't always be taken at face value, but they can give you an idea of where the market stands.
The listings are amusing, but there are real consequences, according to Ryan McGrady, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
"You might think 'this is just an app,' but people become attached to online services and act out of desperation when they suddenly disappear," McGrady says. And where there's desperation, criminals are sure to take advantage. "You just have to remember the lesson of Flappy Bird," he says.