ToTok is one of the most popular mobile applications developed in United Arab Emirates and as per recent buzz, the app is back in the news. This time for returning to Google Play Store after it was earlier removed from it for the reason that it was alleged to have used by some government agency to spy on people. This has led both the tech giants Apple and Google removing the app from their online marketplaces in the previous month as it was reported in The New York Times to track the communications, and movements along with other details that seemed installed over their phone devices.
Now, the app is back in the news as the Google Play Store seems to have given the users the opportunity to download the same claimed the Twitter handle of the app. On its platform, we saw Google enlisting a series of updates seen over the apps that requested to access for the permissions along with the data that was added in the newly designed dialogue for asking the authorisation to access the same along with syncing the contact list as well. The app would soon remain unavailable over the App Store. As per reports, the tech giant, Apple was seen telling the ToTok removing the same from the App Store that tend to remain pending for the review.
On the other side, Google was seen claiming that it was taken down from the Play Store on the policy related issues. Soon we saw the app called ToTok turning out to be popular by offering the free calling and messaging option to millions of users to different nations including UAE where calling over the internet is blocked from apps like Skype. It was launched in the year 2019, which was developed by the company called Breej Holding, while the Times even reported the fact that it has remained the front company that was linked to Dark Matter, which happens to be a UAE based company dealing with cyberintelligence and hacking.
The Telecom Regulatory authority from UAE seems to have denied the allegations claiming that the country’s laws would prohibit all types of data breach along with unlawful interception. Patrick Wardle who remains the security researcher will be seen assisting the company called The New York Times claimed the ToTok app that appeared as the part and parcel of the massive surveillance operation that seemed to be likely afforded in-depth insight in a big way of the country’s population. ToTok was seen appearing to trick a number of users of both the Android and iPhone devices meant to handle the access of their locations along with the private data over their devices claimed the officials. However, the sources claim that it was promoted as a fake review by many.