The popular app TikTok is being asked to be banned again, this time by a well-known lawmaker. In a letter to Apple and Google, Democratic Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, demanded that the tech. companies remove TikTok from their app stores.
Bennet writes that “TikTok, in its current form, [is] an unacceptable threat to the national security of the United States” in his letter. The letter, which was sent to Apple and Google’s respective CEOs, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, echoes many of the arguments that have been made by other lawmakers who are also trying to get the app banned.
Bennet suggests that ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, might be forced to “use its influence to advance Chinese government interests” through the app. He claims that “like most social media platforms, TikTok collects vast and sophisticated data from its users, including faceprints and voiceprints.”
“Unlike most social media platforms, TikTok poses a unique concern because Chinese law obligates ByteDance, its Beijing-based parent company, to’support, assist, and cooperate with state intelligence work.”
TikTok has consistently refuted such claims and worked to downplay its ties to China. Brooke Oberwetter, a representative for TikTok, said in a statement, “Unfortunately, Senator Bennet’s letter relies almost exclusively on misleading reporting about TikTok, the data we collect, and our data security controls.”
As the company puts it, “it also ignores the considerable investment we have made through Project Texas—a plan negotiated with our country’s top national security experts to provide additional assurances to our community about the security of their data and the integrity of the TikTok platform.”
Unfortunately, neither Apple nor Google has said anything concerning this. Neither company is likely to make such a significant change based on a letter from a single senator, but this does show how much pressure and scrutiny is being put on TkTok.
Over the past two years, the company has been in talks with CFIUS to ensure that it can legally continue business in the United States. It seems, however, that progress has stalled, and the company has launched a new charm offensive in an effort to win over its detractors.
TikTok has also been giving US regulators more information about its partnership with Oracle in order to protect the data of US users and address their concerns. Nonetheless, legislators don’t appear eager to let TikTok off the hook. Several different state governments have also passed laws prohibiting the use of the app.
We reported earlier this week that Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, will appear before Congress for the first time in March 2023.
