WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Chris Wray raised national security concerns over TikTok, saying control of the popular video-sharing app is in the hands of the Chinese government, which “doesn’t share our values,” Friday. warned.
Wray said the FBI is concerned that the Chinese have the ability to control the app’s recommendation algorithm. He also claimed that China could use the app to collect data about its users that could be used for traditional espionage.
“These are all in the hands of governments that do not share our values, and whose missions are utterly incompatible with America’s best interests.” Addressing the audience, Mr.
These concerns are similar to those he raised during Congress last month when the issue was raised. And they’re being voiced in Washington’s ongoing dialogue on the app.
Concerned about China’s influence over TikTok, the Trump administration threatened to ban the app within the United States in 2020 and pressured ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US company. Discussions are underway for an agreement that could resolve U.S. security concerns, and the process is taking place across U.S. government agencies, Wray said.
In an emailed statement, TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said, “As Secretary Wray previously stated, FBI information is being considered as part of ongoing negotiations with the U.S. government.” I cannot comment on the details of these confidential discussions, but they are well on their way to fully satisfying all reasonable national security concerns of the United States and have already made significant progress toward implementing these solutions. I am confident that we will do it.”
TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance. His TikTok statement on Friday stated that ByteDance is a privately held company and that “his TikTok Inc., which provides his TikTok service in the United States, is a United States company bound by the laws of the United States.” increase.
At a Senate hearing in September, TikTok Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas said in response to questions from members of both parties that the company protects all data from users in the United States and China. Government officials said they could not access it.
“We never share data,” Pappas said.
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