Ask HN: Is tiktok reading and uploading user contact as it is doing in China?

A China user prosecuted Tiktok for it read and uploaded users contact without permission and it is not mentioned in its privacy statement. The Tiktok claimed in the court that contact is not private. I have heard that Tiktok has been unexpectedly successful abroad so I am wondering whether its terrifying claim is a result of China’s poor protection of privacy or it is just such a terrible company.

Source: news.ycombinator.com