What could go wrong? It’s not as if we didn’t know what was coming. TikTok, the most popular video-sharing app on the planet, is now owned by Communist China’s ByteDance. What could go wrong?
For starters, here’s what it looks like:
Bloomberg reported that TikTok has confirmed that certain employees based in China had access to American users’ personal data. The company admitted this in a letter sent to nine U.S senators. All of them were Republicans who had raised concerns about TikTok’s data-sharing practices. Senators repeatedly asked:
Are employees based in China allowed to access data from the United States?
How important is it for these employees to shape TikTok’s algorithms and strategies?
Does any of this information get shared with the Chinese government?
Let’s cut to the chase: Yes. A lot. And of course, user data is shared with the Chinese government.
Moreover, virtually every Chinese citizen is a potential operative of the Communists in Beijing. If for no other reason, Chinese citizens cooperate with the ChiComs out of fear. Those who refuse to do so tend to “disappear.” Here’s more, via Bloomberg:
Employees based in China who have passed a series of security protocols can access information about TikTok users in the United States, including comments and public videos, said Shou Zi Chew, TikTok Chief Executive Officer. This was according to a June 30 letter that Bloomberg News obtained. He said that none of this information is shared with China’s government and is subject to “robust cybersecurity control”.
According to the social network, it is working with the US government on improving data security. This includes information that has been designated as “protected by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US” (CFIUS).
Project Texas, a new initiative, involves physically storing US data in data centers on US servers. TikTok will also shift its platform to Oracle’s cloud infrastructure. This means that the app and algorithm can be accessed from US data centers.
“None of this information is shared with China’s government and it is subjected to rigorous cybersecurity controls. ‘” Uh-huh, It’s absolutely true.
The lies listed above are a result of years of neglecting China’s efforts to steal American technology. We are supposed to believe that the personal data in U.S. TikTok accounts would not reach Beijing. It might be of interest to Communists. People, don’t be dumb as Biden or the Democrats.
On Friday, Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican Senator, told Bloomberg:
“TikTok’s reply confirms that our concerns about the CCP’s control over the company were well-founded. Although the Chinese-run company should have been transparent from the beginning, it tried to hide its work behind secrecy. Americans should know that if they’re on TikTok, Communist China can access their information.”
Blackburn could not have been more correct.
BuzzFeed News, which was noted by Bloomberg, reported that TikTok’s U.S. Consumer Data was accessed in China by engineers from Chinese companies. According to the nine Republican senators, TikTok’s parent and TikTok “are using their accesses to a treasure trove of U.S. consumer information to spy on Americans.”
Biden and the Democrat Party act on every opportunity to leave the Republican Party alone to stand against Xi Jinping and China’s theft of not only U.S. technology and intellectual property; but also the potential threat to the personal data of millions of Americans.
America, don’t be like Joe. China can eat our lunch. They are already doing so in many ways.
Again, what could go wrong?
