The FBI’s Director, Chris Wray, has stated that the popular video-sharing app TikTok is a “national security concern” for the U.S., describing it as a formidable tool for espionage and mass control that the Chinese communist dictatorship could do whatever they wanted with.
According to Wray, the most pressing issue with TikTok is its recommendations algorithm, which Beijing authorities could use to monitor users manipulating content and, if desired, influence operations. According to Wray, the Communist Party could also collect user data for more traditional espionage operations.
“All of these things are in the hands of a government that doesn’t share our values and that has a mission that’s very much at odds with what’s in the best interests of the United States. That should concern us,” Mr Wray said.
He previously stated that the Chinese government could potentially use social media platform TikTok to gain control over the collection of users’ information because It includes the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so choose, or to control software on millions of devices, giving the opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices.
The sources for this piece include an article in TechSpot.