FBI warns of possible Chinese regime's computer control through TikTok
"The Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users" said Federal Bureau Director Christopher Wray.
China could use its social network TikTok, owned by the private company ByteDance, to monitor personal data of millions of U.S. users. FBI Director Christopher Wray made this statement during his appearance before the House Homeland Security Committee, adding that the Beijing regime could control the recommendation algorithm to influence citizens:
Wray affirmed that social media and technological evolution open up new avenues of threats to national security and Americans:
TikTok's response
In 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) asked ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok to safeguard national security and protect the data of millions of U.S. citizens from the Chinese Communist regime. On the other hand, the Department of Commerce issued an order against TikTok for posing a threat to the United States. For these reasons, TikTok's Chief Operating Officer, Vanessa Pappas stated at a Senate appearance in September that the social network takes its users’ security very seriously:
On the other hand, Pappas assured that the agreement to protect users' personal data between TikTok and the United States is on track: