FBI and US Congress Both Take Action... 'TikTok Poses National Security Threat'

FBI Director Ray: "TikTok Can Control Software on Smartphones with the App Installed"
US Congress Preparing Bill to Ban TikTok on All Government-Owned Smartphones

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has expressed concerns that the popular video-sharing platform TikTok could pose a threat to U.S. national security. In particular, the FBI pointed out that the biggest issue is that TikTok is operated by ByteDance, a Chinese company, meaning that if the Chinese government requests information, it must be shared.

According to Bloomberg and Reuters on the 15th (local time), FBI Director Christopher Wray stated before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee that the Chinese government could use TikTok to collect data on millions of TikTok users and control its recommendation algorithm to exert influence. He also added that the Chinese government could manipulate software installed on millions of devices, including smartphones, through TikTok.

Director Wray emphasized that because Chinese companies must comply with the Chinese government’s demands regarding information sharing and tools, this alone is a significant reason for concern.

There have been multiple claims in the U.S. that American user information could be transferred to the Chinese government through TikTok. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) ordered ByteDance to sell TikTok in 2020 during the Donald Trump administration due to such concerns.

The FBI also conveyed national security concerns related to TikTok to CFIUS. CFIUS and TikTok have been negotiating a national security agreement to protect the personal information of over 100 million users.

This agreement could include managing U.S. TikTok users on servers operated by the American software company Oracle and inspecting TikTok’s algorithm. However, negotiations are currently stalled, and if the outcome results in a complete ban of TikTok’s U.S. operations or a forced sale to an American company, it is expected to face criticism from hardline lawmakers concerned about China.

Brook Overwater, TikTok’s spokesperson, said, "We understand the FBI’s statements as part of ongoing negotiations between us and the U.S. government. While we cannot discuss specifics of confidential talks, we are confident that we are on a path to fully satisfy the U.S. government’s national security concerns."

As concerns over TikTok grow, the U.S. Congress is weighing legislation to officially ban TikTok on all government-owned smartphones. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) recently announced plans to draft a TikTok ban bill in a Washington Post column.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.