TikTok tells U.S. lawmakers it does not give information to China’s government
A TikTok emblem is displayed on a smartphone on this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) – An government at social media app TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, denied throughout a U.S. congressional listening to on Tuesday that it has given data to the Chinese language authorities and stated that it has taken steps to safeguard U.S. information.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, the highest Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee subcommittee that held the listening to, stated she is worried about TikTok’s information assortment, together with audio and a consumer’s location, and the potential for the Chinese language authorities to realize entry to the data.
Blackburn pressed Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s head of public coverage for the Americas, on whether or not the corporate may resist giving information to China’s authorities if materials have been to be demanded.
“We don’t share data with the Chinese language authorities,” Beckerman responded.
Blackburn stated that China’s authorities has a monetary stake in ByteDance and a seat on the board, which Beckerman denied. Beckerman additionally stated that exterior researchers have discovered that TikTok has collected much less information on customers than its tech trade friends.
Beckerman testified that TikTok’s U.S. consumer information is saved in the US, with backups in Singapore.
“We’ve a world-renowned U.S. based mostly safety group that handles entry,” Beckerman stated.
Republican Senator John Thune stated throughout the listening to that TikTok is probably extra pushed by content material algorithms than even Fb , because the app is legendary for rapidly studying what customers discover attention-grabbing and providing them these forms of movies.
Beckerman stated TikTok could be prepared to offer the app’s algorithm moderation insurance policies to ensure that the Senate panel to have it reviewed by unbiased consultants.
Republican former President Donald Trump had sought to bar TikTok – a preferred platform utilized by tens of millions of People – from U.S. app shops, saying it collected information from American customers that might be obtained by China’s authorities and posed a risk to U.S. nationwide safety.
Democratic President Joe Biden later revoked Trump’s plan, however sought a broader assessment of assorted foreign-controlled apps.
Reporting by Diane Bartz and Sheila Dang; Enhancing by Will Dunham
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