Ivan Mehta1 year
An FCC Commissioner, Brendan Carr, wrote to Apple and Google on Tuesday, requesting the companies remove TikTok from their app stores for “its pattern of surreptitious data practices.” This comes after BuzzFeed News reported last week that TikTok’s staff in China had access to U.S.-based users’ data up until January.
“As you know TikTok is an app that is available to millions of Americans through your app stores, and it collects vast troves of sensitive data about those U.S. users. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance — an organization that is beholden to the Communist Party of China and required by the Chinese law to comply with PRC’s surveillance demands,” Carr said in a letter addressed to Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook.
“It is clear that TikTok poses an unacceptable national security risk due to its extensive data harvesting being combined with Beijing’s apparently unchecked access to that sensitive data.”
TikTok is not just another video app.
That’s the sheep’s clothing.It harvests swaths of sensitive data that new reports show are being accessed in Beijing.
I’ve called on @Apple & @Google to remove TikTok from their app stores for its pattern of surreptitious data practices. pic.twitter.com/Le01fBpNjn
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) June 28, 2022
After BuzzFeed News published its report, TikTok quickly went on the defense and announced that it is moving all U.S. users’ data to Oracle servers situated in the country. It specified that the company still uses its own U.S. and Singapore-based servers for backup. But in the future, it expects to “delete U.S. users’ private data from our own data centers and fully pivot to Oracle cloud servers located in the U.S.”
“We’re also making operational changes in line with this work — including the new department we recently established, with U.S.-based leadership, to solely manage U.S. user data for TikTok,” the company added.
TikTok’s user data practices have come under suspicion many times. In 2020, India banned TikTok over national security concerns, and both former President Donald Trump and the current president Joe Biden have raised questions about the short video app’s relations with China and how it affects U.S. users’ data. While Trump proposed an outright ban on TikTok or an option of selling its U.S. business to a local buyer, Biden proposed new rules that will give more oversight on apps with ties to “jurisdiction of foreign adversaries” that may pose national security risks.
Apple and Google didn’t comment on the story.
Update July 1, 10 AM IST: Updated the story to reflect that TechCrunch didn’t receive any comments from Apple and Google.
Certainly! I'm well-versed in tech and privacy concerns, especially regarding data practices and international regulations. The situation surrounding TikTok and its alleged data practices raises significant concerns about privacy and national security. The involvement of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner, Brendan Carr, underscores the gravity of the issue.
Here's a breakdown of the concepts related to the article:
TikTok:
- Owned by ByteDance: A Beijing-based company, ByteDance owns TikTok, which has raised concerns due to its ties to the Chinese government.
- Data Practices: TikTok has been accused of surreptitious data practices, including the access to and handling of sensitive user data, raising questions about user privacy and security.
FCC Commissioner's Letter:
- Brendan Carr: A Commissioner at the FCC, Brendan Carr, expressed concerns about TikTok's data practices in a letter to Apple and Google. He highlighted the risk posed by the extensive data harvesting by TikTok, coupled with alleged access by Beijing, potentially compromising national security.
TikTok's Response and Actions:
- Data Transfer: TikTok announced a shift of U.S. users' data to Oracle servers located in the U.S., aiming to address concerns and maintain user data within the country.
- Operational Changes: Establishment of a dedicated department with U.S.-based leadership to manage U.S. user data reflects a move towards greater transparency and localization of data management.
Government Involvement and Actions:
- India's Ban: In 2020, India banned TikTok over national security concerns, highlighting global apprehensions regarding the app's data practices.
- US Government Concerns: Both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden expressed concerns about TikTok's ties to China, with Trump proposing a ban or sale of its U.S. business and Biden seeking increased oversight for apps tied to foreign adversaries.
Apple and Google's Response:
- No Comments: As per the article update, neither Apple nor Google has issued any official comments on the matter to TechCrunch.
The ongoing discourse between tech giants, governments, and regulatory bodies underscores the complexities of managing data privacy in a globalized digital landscape. It highlights the necessity for stringent oversight and regulations to safeguard user data, especially concerning apps with international ties and potential national security implications.
