November 17, 2022
FBI Director Christopher Wray has testified before a House committee that China has stolen more American data than any other country combined.
He claims that TikTok is one method of stealing this data, and that the Chinese government could use TikTok to control data collection on millions of users or the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if desired, or to control software on millions of devices, giving the opportunity to potentially tactically compromised personal devices.
Wray also expressed concern about China’s massive hacking program, which has been used to steal more Americans’ personal and business data than any other country combined.
The FBI is not the only US agency on high alert regarding TikTok’s operations in the United States. Other government officials and members of Congress have expressed serious doubts about TikTok’s ability to protect American user data from Beijing.
TikTok, on the other hand, has stated that it does not store US user data in China, where the government has the authority to compel companies to hand over internal information. Wray, on the other hand, insists that the specific law was cause for concern.
The sources for this piece include an article in TheHill.
