Is TikTok a national security risk?

[SamIam96]

The US government says TikTok is a national security risk because the Chinese government can use it to spy on us.

How does knowing that I like watching pretty girls dance while I ride the bus threaten our security? (They collect viewing and location data and surely more.)

How exactly does someone use an app on a phone to spy?

Congressional Report (3 pages)

NY Times Analysis

Yeah, TikTok is spyware.

Nah, TikTok is no different than companies like Google or FaceBook.

I don't know, I don't use TikTok.

Updates

+1 y

What information does the app have that's a national security risk?

Does the Chinese government care that I watch cute girls dance? Will they flood the market with skimpy yoga shorts?

I just don't see anything that I'd call a "risk."

[Astarlessnightsky]

They often claim this because in China its true, every app and website and company is bound to the government and the government can spy on the citizens.

But that also true for Apple and other American companies. For Example of want "Free Taiwan" engraved on your Apple Iphone in China, its not possible and you may get a unfriendly visit from the Police.

In the US or outside of China thats different, Someone even put it to the test, said 10 bad thing about china, like the Taiwan, Tibet Situation or the Tiamenne Square incident, or mentioned the Uiguren. And despite the Video reaching over a million views it wasn't took down or banned.

The US want to ban Tik Tok, because they can't control it. People are unionising on Tiktok, educating themselves and that puts all the old rich dudes in danger of becoming a little less rich.

[ThatRandomBoy]

It could be depending up on if it's owned by China or not personally I don't think it is but at any point the Chinese government can request the information and they can't deny it because of their loss

[ThatRandomBoy]

Laws

[ApplePie409]

Don’t fall for that crap. So the government cares about the Chinese spying on us and that’s why we have open borders with Chinese flowing across?


This is all about the communists wanting to control social media.

[SamIam96]

Sorry. I don't follow how border policy is connected to smartphone apps.

[ApplePie409]

Chinese military-aged men are flowing across our border. So why do you think our government cares about Chinese spyware? Why did they let the Chinese spy balloon hover over us for a week?

[SamIam96]

The balloon is certainly a problem. If there are hoards of military aged Chinese men crossing our boarders, that would be, too. I don't see how either is related to the TikTok app.

[DaisyM23]

governments and companies already know basically everything single thing about us, i doubt china cares about people dancing or making edits or cooking or booktok

[OtterMan68]

only if the government uses it.

If the private user is OK with using a site owned by a Chinese company that must comply with the Chinese gov, then no

[In_Trance]

Nobody has to spy on us. We willingly upload our entire lives to tiktok and every other platform out there. It's all there for everybody to see