FBI Calls TikTok a Threat to National Security

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The short-form video application made by China, TikTok, is mentioned to be dangerous due to its potential threat to the United States (US) national security. The statement was delivered by the Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Christopher Wray, at an event at the Gerald R. Ford College of Public Policy, University of Michigan.

“All of these issues are in the hands of an administration that does not share our values and mission that are contrary to what is in the best interests of the United States of America. That should concern us," said Wray as quoted by Tempo from NDTV, Friday, December 2, 2022.

Previously, Wray had stated the danger of TikTok before the entire US parliament. He claimed that the Chinese government was using the video-sharing application to influence and control users' devices.

"There is a possibility that the Chinese government is using the TikTok application to collect data on millions of users or algorithm recommendations, then used for espionage operations," said Wray.

Under China's National Security Act, private companies operating in the country are required to provide their data to the Chinese government upon request. Time magazine reported that the regulation made the US government inflamed after TikTok became the most popular application in the world since its first launch six years ago.

In response to the FBI's accusations, TikTok's Chief Operating Officer, Vanessa Pappas, testified that the company does not store or share US user data in China at all. "We have never shared data, period," Pappas said at a Senate hearing as quoted from C-Span, Monday, November 14, 2022.

However, to anticipate the dangers of TikTok, the US took steps to move the application's routing through Oracle, a US-based software company with the responsibility of ensuring strict content moderation so that it is not vulnerable to the influence of Chinese authorities.

Taking extreme measures, the US insisted on banning the use of the TikTok app on state government devices and computer networks due to national security concerns. The FBI also ordered state executives to take all necessary steps to prevent TikTok from accessing sensitive state data.

Previously, two states in the US, Alabama and Utah, agreed on this decision. "TikTok's use of engaging the nation's IT infrastructure creates unacceptable vulnerabilities to Chinese infiltration operations," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement.

HARIS SETYAWAN | IMAJI LASAHIDO (INTERN)

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