UK's data watchdog fined TikTok £12.7 million ($15.84 million) for not protecting children’s privacy. According to its data, TikTok permitted around 1.4 million UK children, who were below the age of 13, to use the social platform in 2020.

As per an investigation carried out by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO),&nbsp; data of children below the age of 13 was used by the video-sharing site without parental consent.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/australia-to-ban-tiktok-on-government-devices-over-security-concerns-report-578689">Australia to ban TikTok on government devices: Reports</a>

TikTok said it had "invested heavily" to prevent under-13s from accessing the site.

The ICO said that many people were able to get access to the site even after TikTok had set 13 as the minimum age for creating an account.

It stated that the data of children may have been used for tracking and profiling them, and potentially exposing them to inappropriate or harmful content.&nbsp;

Information Commissioner John Edwards said, "There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. TikTok did not abide by those laws.”

"As a consequence, an estimated one million under-13s were inappropriately granted access to the platform, with TikTok collecting and using their personal data. TikTok should have known better. TikTok should have done better. Our £12.7m fine reflects the serious impact their failures may have had,” he added.

WATCH | TikTok hit with $15.9 million fine in UK: Global crackdown on Chinese app

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Later speaking to BBC News, he said that TikTok had "taken no steps" to get parental consent.

"When you sign up you can be targeted for advertising, you can be profiled, your data contributes to an algorithm which feeds content. If you've been looking at content which is not appropriate for your age, that can get more and more extreme. It can be quite harmful for people who are not old enough to fully appreciate the implications and to make appropriate choices,” he stated.

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UK's data watchdog fined TikTok £12.7 million ($15.84 million) for not protecting children’s privacy. According to its data, TikTok permitted around 1.4 million UK children, who were below the age of 13, to use the social platform in 2020.

UK's data watchdog fined TikTok £12.7 million ($15.84 million) for not protecting children’s privacy. According to its data, TikTok permitted around 1.4 million UK children, who were below the age of 13, to use the social platform in 2020. As per an investigation carried out by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), data of children below the age of 13 was used by the video-sharing site without parental consent. ALSO READ | Australia to ban TikTok on government devices: Reports TikTok said it had "invested heavily" to prevent under-13s from accessing the site. The ICO said that many people were able to get access to the site even after TikTok had set 13 as the minimum age for creating an account. It stated that the data of children may have been used for tracking and profiling them, and potentially exposing them to inappropriate or harmful content. Information Commissioner John Edwards said, "There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. TikTok did not abide by those laws.” "As a consequence, an estimated one million under-13s were inappropriately granted access to the platform, with TikTok collecting and using their personal data. TikTok should have known better. TikTok should have done better. Our £12.7m fine reflects the serious impact their failures may have had,” he added. WATCH | TikTok hit with $15.9 million fine in UK: Global crackdown on Chinese app Later speaking to BBC News, he said that TikTok had "taken no steps" to get parental consent. "When you sign up you can be targeted for advertising, you can be profiled, your data contributes to an algorithm which feeds content. If you've been looking at content which is not appropriate for your age, that can get more and more extreme. It can be quite harmful for people who are not old enough to fully appreciate the implications and to make appropriate choices,” he stated. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UK's watchdog fines TikTok $15.84mn for misusing children's data

Days after Australia announced it was banning TikTok on government devices in the country, China's commerce ministry has released a statement saying the decision was 'discriminatory' — one that harmed the interest of Australian businesses.

Days after Australia announced it was banning TikTok on government devices in the country, China's commerce ministry has released a statement saying the decision was 'discriminatory' — one that harmed the interest of Australian businesses. It urged Canberra to look into the matter again and treat all firms fairly. "Australia treated TikTok differently from other social media platforms and adopted discriminatory restrictive measures, which are not conducive to maintaining Australia's national security," read the statement. "We urge the Australian side to earnestly abide by the rules of the market economy and the principles of fair competition, and provide Chinese companies with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment." ALSO READ | Australia to ban TikTok on government devices: Reports Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing had "lodged stern representations with the Australian side". Notably, earlier this week, reports stated that Australia had joined the likes of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand amongst others in banning the short-video app. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus informed the decision was taken after receiving advice from the country's intelligence agencies. "TikTok poses significant security and privacy risks to non-corporate commonwealth entities arising from extensive collection of user data and exposure to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law," read Australia's protective security direction. WATCH | Australia to ban TikTok on government devices: Reports × TikTok Australia's General Manager Lee Hunter in a statement said that the company was “extremely disappointed” by the decision if confirmed. “We stress that there is no evidence to suggest that TikTok is in any way a security risk to Australians and should not be treated differently to other social media platforms,” said Hunter, as per media reports. ALSO READ | US lawmakers to go ahead with the proposal banning TikTok use nationwide In December last year, TikTok acknowledged that it has knowingly collected user data to spy on journalists. India was one of the first countries to issue a blanket ban on the Chinese app. Since then, more and more countries have joined the bandwagon and booted TikTok out. Last month, US lawmakers said they were moving forward with the plan to impose a nationwide ban on the app, having already banned it on federal devices. Kevin McCarthy, the US House of Representatives speaker said the lawmakers were moving ahead to address the national security concerns posed by the app, alleging that the Chinese government had access to users' data. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Australia treated TikTok...’: China requests fair treatment after app is banned

Britain's data watchdog has fired TikTok $15.9 million for breaching data protection laws including using the personal data of children aged under 13 years without parental consent. The Information Commissioner's Office estimated that TikTok allowed as many as 1.4 million UK children under 13 to use its platform in 2020.

TikTok hit with $15.9 million fine in UK: Global crackdown on Chinese app

The Australian government said on Tuesday (April 4) that it will ban TikTok on government devices, joining a growing list of Western countries that are cracking down on the&nbsp;Chinese-owned app because of national security fears.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the decision followed advice from the country's intelligence agencies and would begin "as soon as practicable", according to a report by the news agency AFP.&nbsp;

More details will be added.&nbsp;

The Australian government said on Tuesday (April 4) that it will ban TikTok on government devices, joining a growing list of Western countries that are cracking down on the Chinese-owned app because of national security fears.

The Australian government said on Tuesday (April 4) that it will ban TikTok on government devices, joining a growing list of Western countries that are cracking down on the Chinese-owned app because of national security fears. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the decision followed advice from the country's intelligence agencies and would begin "as soon as practicable", according to a report by the news agency AFP. More details will be added.

Australia to ban TikTok on government devices

Social media app TikTok has been officially banned by NATO from the devices it provides to its staffers, citing security concerns, as per two NATO officials who were familiar with the matter.

A note was sent to the staff by NATO officials on Friday announcing the ban on TikTok, the officials confirmed. Through the note the ban was made official, however, TikTok was not much usable on the devices issued by NATO before anyways, said the official, because of internal tech restrictions.

“Cyber security is a top priority for NATO. NATO has robust requirements for determining applications for official business use. TikTok is not accessible on NATO devices,” said a senior NATO official.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-rand-paul-blocks-tiktok-ban-asks-if-us-is-going-to-be-just-like-china-and-block-free-speech-577130">Republican Rand Paul blocks TikTok ban, asks if US is 'going to be just like China' and block free speech</a>

NATO has become the latest governmental body which has banned the application over concerns that data of TikTok users can be accessed by the Chinese government through its Chinese parent company, Bytedance.&nbsp;

The application has already been banned by the UK, US, European Parliament, Norway and other nations from government-issued devices.

Earlier this month, TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew emphasised to US lawmakers that they are completely independent of China and stated that he has “seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data; they have never asked us, we have not provided it".&nbsp;

He stated that TikTok is shifting its data into the United States which will be stored on US soil by Oracle, the American company.

WATCH | TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app

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“So the risk would be similar to any government going to an American company, asking for data,” he stated.

However, western governments remain sceptical. TikTok should be “ended one way or another,” said &nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month in a separate hearing while addressing Congress on the same day Chew was testifying. “Clearly, we, the administration and others are seized with the challenge that it poses and is taking action to address it," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Social media app TikTok has been officially banned by NATO from the devices it provides to its staffers, citing security concerns, as per two NATO officials who were familiar with the matter.

Social media app TikTok has been officially banned by NATO from the devices it provides to its staffers, citing security concerns, as per two NATO officials who were familiar with the matter. A note was sent to the staff by NATO officials on Friday announcing the ban on TikTok, the officials confirmed. Through the note the ban was made official, however, TikTok was not much usable on the devices issued by NATO before anyways, said the official, because of internal tech restrictions. “Cyber security is a top priority for NATO. NATO has robust requirements for determining applications for official business use. TikTok is not accessible on NATO devices,” said a senior NATO official. ALSO READ | Republican Rand Paul blocks TikTok ban, asks if US is 'going to be just like China' and block free speech NATO has become the latest governmental body which has banned the application over concerns that data of TikTok users can be accessed by the Chinese government through its Chinese parent company, Bytedance. The application has already been banned by the UK, US, European Parliament, Norway and other nations from government-issued devices. Earlier this month, TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew emphasised to US lawmakers that they are completely independent of China and stated that he has “seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data; they have never asked us, we have not provided it". He stated that TikTok is shifting its data into the United States which will be stored on US soil by Oracle, the American company. WATCH | TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app “So the risk would be similar to any government going to an American company, asking for data,” he stated. However, western governments remain sceptical. TikTok should be “ended one way or another,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month in a separate hearing while addressing Congress on the same day Chew was testifying. “Clearly, we, the administration and others are seized with the challenge that it poses and is taking action to address it," he added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NATO officially bans TikTok on devices of its staff

Australia will soon join the list of countries which have banned TikTok on government devices, reported the Australian media, late Monday (April 3). The ban follows other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and so on, who have also recently banned the Chinese-owned short video app.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly agreed to impose a ban on the use of TikTok on government devices following a&nbsp;security&nbsp;review by the Department of Home Affairs, reported The Australian, as per Reuters. An announcement about the same is expected sometime this week, said the media reports. &nbsp;

According to The Age newspaper, based in the city of Melbourne, Victoria state will also ban TikTok from government phones, citing a state government official as saying Victoria would follow the federal government’s guidance on the matter. Meanwhile, Tiktok Australia general manager Lee Hunter in a statement said that the company is “extremely disappointed” by the decision if confirmed.&nbsp;

He added that they were also disappointed to learn about the possible decision from the media “despite our repeated offers to engage with government constructively about this policy.”&nbsp;

“We stress that there is no evidence to suggest that TikTok is in any way a security risk to Australians and should not be treated differently to other social media platforms,” said Hunter, as per media reports.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, reports also suggest that TikTok is considering separation from parent company ByteDance as it is under scrutiny in the US over the app and the alleged national security risks it poses, said a report last month.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Australia will soon join the list of countries which have banned TikTok on government devices, reported the Australian media, late Monday (April 3). The ban follows other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and so on, who have also recently banned the Chinese-owned short video app.

Australia will soon join the list of countries which have banned TikTok on government devices, reported the Australian media, late Monday (April 3). The ban follows other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and so on, who have also recently banned the Chinese-owned short video app. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reportedly agreed to impose a ban on the use of TikTok on government devices following a security review by the Department of Home Affairs, reported The Australian, as per Reuters. An announcement about the same is expected sometime this week, said the media reports. According to The Age newspaper, based in the city of Melbourne, Victoria state will also ban TikTok from government phones, citing a state government official as saying Victoria would follow the federal government’s guidance on the matter. Meanwhile, Tiktok Australia general manager Lee Hunter in a statement said that the company is “extremely disappointed” by the decision if confirmed. He added that they were also disappointed to learn about the possible decision from the media “despite our repeated offers to engage with government constructively about this policy.” “We stress that there is no evidence to suggest that TikTok is in any way a security risk to Australians and should not be treated differently to other social media platforms,” said Hunter, as per media reports. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that TikTok is considering separation from parent company ByteDance as it is under scrutiny in the US over the app and the alleged national security risks it poses, said a report last month. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia to ban TikTok on government devices: Reports

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has announced a blue tick shake-up. From April 15, only verified users will be able to vote in Twitter polls. U.S. has decided to go forward with a plan to ban TikTok on federal devices due to security concerns. Is the future of Twitter & TikTok in peril? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Twitter boss Elon Musk announces blue tick shake-up | China: Xi Jinping bulldozes TikTok

Following the harsh questioning of the CEO of the social media platform by Washington legislators on Friday, a ban on Chinese-owned TikTok in the United States appears to be an increasingly likely possibility. Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, was subjected to a barrage of inquiries from US lawmakers who made it clear that they believed the app, which is the most popular social media platform in the country and is best known for sharing jokes and dance videos, posed a threat to both mental health and national security.

TikTok ban inevitable after the grilling of CEO?

Days after&nbsp;TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled before a Congressional committee in Washington, the lawmakers have said they are moving forward with the plan to impose a nationwide ban&nbsp;on the short-video platform, according to The Guardian.&nbsp;

Kevin McCarthy, the US House of Representatives speaker said the lawmakers were moving ahead to address the national security concerns posed by the app, alleging that the Chinese government had access to users' data.&nbsp;

“The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party,” tweeted&nbsp;McCarthy.&nbsp;

While the legislation has largely received bipartisan support, Democrat leader&nbsp;Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to TikTok to post a lengthy monologue where she protested against the ban saying it was an 'unprecedented' move in the history of the United States.

Citing TikTok as a 'high risk' security concern, the Joe Biden administration has demanded that the Chinese owner of the app sell their stake or risk getting banned.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiktok-says-disappointed-over-the-ban-in-us-545332">WATCH |&nbsp;TikTok says 'disappointed over the ban' in US</a>

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The ByteDance-owned platform has been approached by Committee on Foreign Investment in the US or CFIUS and asked for divestment over national security concerns.&nbsp;

During the hearing last Thursday,&nbsp;the committee members asked Shou how frequently he was in contact with the Chinese government. The lawmakers also questioned whether TikTok's&nbsp;proposed solution, called Project Texas, would offer sufficient protection against the Chinese laws under which Chinese companies&nbsp;make user data accessible to the CCP government.

Shou responded that TikTok is global in nature, and headquartered in Singapore and Los Angeles, and not available in mainland China. According to reports, TikTok has spent more than&nbsp;&nbsp;$1.5 billion&nbsp;on data security efforts under 'Project Texas' to satisfy the US government's concerns.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-ceo-grilled-he-are-key-takeaways-from-shou-zi-chews-congress-hearing-575222">ALSO READ |&nbsp;TikTok CEO grilled: Here are key takeaways from Shou Zi Chew’s Congress hearing</a>

However, the lawmakers appear to be unmoved. Last year in December,&nbsp;&nbsp;the Chinese short-video app was banned from all federal government devices across the country.&nbsp;

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also warned against data leaks through the app. Director Christopher Wray informed the&nbsp;House panel that potential Chinese government access to users’ data or software through the app is reason to be “extremely concerned”.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Days after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled before a Congressional committee in Washington, the lawmakers have said they are moving forward with the plan to impose a nationwide ban on the short-video platform, according to The Guardian.

Days after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled before a Congressional committee in Washington, the lawmakers have said they are moving forward with the plan to impose a nationwide ban on the short-video platform, according to The Guardian. Kevin McCarthy, the US House of Representatives speaker said the lawmakers were moving ahead to address the national security concerns posed by the app, alleging that the Chinese government had access to users' data. “The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party,” tweeted McCarthy. While the legislation has largely received bipartisan support, Democrat leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to TikTok to post a lengthy monologue where she protested against the ban saying it was an 'unprecedented' move in the history of the United States. Citing TikTok as a 'high risk' security concern, the Joe Biden administration has demanded that the Chinese owner of the app sell their stake or risk getting banned. WATCH | TikTok says 'disappointed over the ban' in US × The ByteDance-owned platform has been approached by Committee on Foreign Investment in the US or CFIUS and asked for divestment over national security concerns. During the hearing last Thursday, the committee members asked Shou how frequently he was in contact with the Chinese government. The lawmakers also questioned whether TikTok's proposed solution, called Project Texas, would offer sufficient protection against the Chinese laws under which Chinese companies make user data accessible to the CCP government. Shou responded that TikTok is global in nature, and headquartered in Singapore and Los Angeles, and not available in mainland China. According to reports, TikTok has spent more than $1.5 billion on data security efforts under 'Project Texas' to satisfy the US government's concerns. ALSO READ | TikTok CEO grilled: Here are key takeaways from Shou Zi Chew’s Congress hearing However, the lawmakers appear to be unmoved. Last year in December, the Chinese short-video app was banned from all federal government devices across the country. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also warned against data leaks through the app. Director Christopher Wray informed the House panel that potential Chinese government access to users’ data or software through the app is reason to be “extremely concerned”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US lawmakers to go ahead with the proposal banning TikTok use nationwide

There are mounting calls to outlaw TikTok, owned by a business based in China, in the United States, with US politicians moving forward with legislation to address National Security concerns over the brief video app.

US: Legislation to address SECURITY WORRIES about TikTok

US House Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said that US lawmakers are going ahead with legislation that will address worries over TikTok. He accused China of having access to user data of the popular video-sharing app. Calls to ban TikTok in the US are growing. US-government has already banned use of TikTok on government-owned devices.

TikTok is owned by China-based company ByteDance.

"The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party," McCarthy said on Twitter.

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It's very concerning that the CEO of TikTok can't be honest and admit what we already know to be true—China has access to TikTok user data. 
 
The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1639980623539445760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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On Thursday, TiKTok CEO Shou Zi appeared before US House Committee for about five hours. He was grilled by lawmakers from the Democratic as well as Republican parties.

TikTok has about 150 million users in America

In Thursday's hearing, the TikTok CEO was asked if of the app, has spied on Americans at Beijing's request. Chew answered, "No."

Republican Representative Neal Dunn then referenced the company's disclosure in December that some China-based employees at ByteDance improperly accessed TikTok user data of two journalists and were no longer employed by the company. He repeated his question about whether ByteDance was spying.

"I don't think that spying is the right way to describe it," Chew said. He went on to describe the reports as involving an "internal investigation" before being cut off.

McCarthy, a Republican, said in a tweet on Sunday, "It's very concerning that the CEO of TikTok can't be honest and admit what we already know to be true — China has access to TikTok user data."

The company says it has spent more than $1.5 billion on data security efforts under the name "Project Texas" which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees and is contracted with Oracle Corp to store TikTok’s U.S. user data.

Rather than appease lawmakers' concerns, Chew's appearance before Congress on Thursday "actually increased the likelihood that Congress will take some action," Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, told ABC News on Sunday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US House Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said that US lawmakers are going ahead with legislation that will address worries over TikTok. He accused China of having access to user data of the popular video-sharing app.

US House Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said that US lawmakers are going ahead with legislation that will address worries over TikTok. He accused China of having access to user data of the popular video-sharing app. Calls to ban TikTok in the US are growing. US-government has already banned use of TikTok on government-owned devices. TikTok is owned by China-based company ByteDance. "The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party," McCarthy said on Twitter. It's very concerning that the CEO of TikTok can't be honest and admit what we already know to be true—China has access to TikTok user data. The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party. — Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 26, 2023 × On Thursday, TiKTok CEO Shou Zi appeared before US House Committee for about five hours. He was grilled by lawmakers from the Democratic as well as Republican parties. TikTok has about 150 million users in America In Thursday's hearing, the TikTok CEO was asked if of the app, has spied on Americans at Beijing's request. Chew answered, "No." Republican Representative Neal Dunn then referenced the company's disclosure in December that some China-based employees at ByteDance improperly accessed TikTok user data of two journalists and were no longer employed by the company. He repeated his question about whether ByteDance was spying. "I don't think that spying is the right way to describe it," Chew said. He went on to describe the reports as involving an "internal investigation" before being cut off. McCarthy, a Republican, said in a tweet on Sunday, "It's very concerning that the CEO of TikTok can't be honest and admit what we already know to be true — China has access to TikTok user data." The company says it has spent more than $1.5 billion on data security efforts under the name "Project Texas" which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees and is contracted with Oracle Corp to store TikTok’s U.S. user data. Rather than appease lawmakers' concerns, Chew's appearance before Congress on Thursday "actually increased the likelihood that Congress will take some action," Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, told ABC News on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: Lawmakers to press on with legislation to deal with TikTok issue

Full-time employees are increasingly turning to social media influencing. Is this the next big challenge for India Inc after moonlighting?

Gravitas: Employees ditching jobs to become Instagram, TikTok influencers

In his first-ever appearance before the US Congress, TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled for almost five hours.&nbsp;

The hearing, which took place on Thursday in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, saw the combative US lawmakers raising concerns over the app’s alleged ties with the Chinese government and privacy practices.

“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” he said as he began his testimony.

Defending TikTok’s privacy practices, Chew said, “There are more than 150 million Americans who love our platform, and we know we have a responsibility to protect them.”

Here are the key takeaways from the hearing:

China’s shadow over TikTok

In a rare bipartisan call, many of the lawmakers—Democrats and Republicans—called for a complete ban on the video-sharing app, claiming that it has links with the Chinese government.

The committee members sought to know how frequently Chew was in contact with them, and questioned whether the company’s proposed solution, called Project Texas, would offer sufficient protection against the Chinese laws under which companies operating in the mainland are obligated to make user data accessible to the government.

A Democrat from California, Tony Cárdenas, asked Chew if TikTok is a Chinese company.

Chew responded that TikTok is global in nature, and headquartered in Singapore and Los Angeles, and not available in mainland China.

The CEO rubbished claims that TikTok poses national security threat in the US, saying that a lot of the risks pointed out were “hypothetical and theoretical”.

<h2>TikTok CEO grilled over alleged China ties by US lawmakers for 5 hours</h2>

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He said that under the company’s US$1.5 billion Project Texas plan, the handling of US data will be stored into a separate division of the company, co-controlled with Austin-based company, Oracle.

&nbsp;“American data is stored on American soil by an American company, overseen by American personnel,” he said.

“So the risk would be similar to any government going to an American company, asking for data,” he added.

TikTok and data collection

The congressmen also question about TikTok’s data collection practices.

Chew responded by emphasising that the data TikTok collects is the data “that’s frequently collected by many other companies in our industry.”

“We are committed to be very transparent with our users about what we collect,” Chew said. “I don’t believe what we collect is more than most players in the industry.”

He was then asked if the app collects data on health and GPS. He told the committee that it doesn’t.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-evidence-hypothetical-tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-on-indias-reasons-to-ban-app-575172">‘No evidence, hypothetical’: TikTok CEO on India’s reasons to ban app</a>

The CEO also said that American tech firms “don’t have a good track record” when it comes to data privacy, singling out Facebook over the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

&nbsp;Youth safety and mental health

One of the important topics that came up for discussion was what kind of impact the app has on children.

The lawmakers raised concerns over reports that &nbsp;the app promotes harmful content and wanted to know whether TikTok was taking any measures to moderate t.

&nbsp;“Your technology is leading to death,” Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis said.

Chew said that as a father of two, the issues around youth safety were “personal for me”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-assures-us-lawmakers-legacy-data-will-be-deleted-this-year-575125">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew assures US lawmakers 'legacy' data will be deleted this year</a>

He asserted that the app provides users with “age-appropriate settings and controls”, and that it offers a “separate experience” in the US for children under 13.

The 40-yeear-old said that that videos are first vetted by a third-party expert Common Sense Network, and then made accessible to children to give them a “curated viewing experience”.

Those under 13 also cannot post videos, comment or message others, he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In his first-ever appearance before the US Congress, TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled for almost five hours. The hearing, which took place on Thursday in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, saw the combative US lawmakers raising concerns over the app’s alleged ties with the Chinese government and privacy practices.

In his first-ever appearance before the US Congress, TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled for almost five hours. The hearing, which took place on Thursday in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, saw the combative US lawmakers raising concerns over the app’s alleged ties with the Chinese government and privacy practices. “Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” he said as he began his testimony. Defending TikTok’s privacy practices, Chew said, “There are more than 150 million Americans who love our platform, and we know we have a responsibility to protect them.” Here are the key takeaways from the hearing: China’s shadow over TikTok In a rare bipartisan call, many of the lawmakers—Democrats and Republicans—called for a complete ban on the video-sharing app, claiming that it has links with the Chinese government. The committee members sought to know how frequently Chew was in contact with them, and questioned whether the company’s proposed solution, called Project Texas, would offer sufficient protection against the Chinese laws under which companies operating in the mainland are obligated to make user data accessible to the government. A Democrat from California, Tony Cárdenas, asked Chew if TikTok is a Chinese company. Chew responded that TikTok is global in nature, and headquartered in Singapore and Los Angeles, and not available in mainland China. The CEO rubbished claims that TikTok poses national security threat in the US, saying that a lot of the risks pointed out were “hypothetical and theoretical”. TikTok CEO grilled over alleged China ties by US lawmakers for 5 hours He said that under the company’s US$1.5 billion Project Texas plan, the handling of US data will be stored into a separate division of the company, co-controlled with Austin-based company, Oracle. “American data is stored on American soil by an American company, overseen by American personnel,” he said. “So the risk would be similar to any government going to an American company, asking for data,” he added. TikTok and data collection The congressmen also question about TikTok’s data collection practices. Chew responded by emphasising that the data TikTok collects is the data “that’s frequently collected by many other companies in our industry.” “We are committed to be very transparent with our users about what we collect,” Chew said. “I don’t believe what we collect is more than most players in the industry.” He was then asked if the app collects data on health and GPS. He told the committee that it doesn’t. Also read | ‘No evidence, hypothetical’: TikTok CEO on India’s reasons to ban app The CEO also said that American tech firms “don’t have a good track record” when it comes to data privacy, singling out Facebook over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Youth safety and mental health One of the important topics that came up for discussion was what kind of impact the app has on children. The lawmakers raised concerns over reports that the app promotes harmful content and wanted to know whether TikTok was taking any measures to moderate t. “Your technology is leading to death,” Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis said. Chew said that as a father of two, the issues around youth safety were “personal for me”. Also read | TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew assures US lawmakers 'legacy' data will be deleted this year He asserted that the app provides users with “age-appropriate settings and controls”, and that it offers a “separate experience” in the US for children under 13. The 40-yeear-old said that that videos are first vetted by a third-party expert Common Sense Network, and then made accessible to children to give them a “curated viewing experience”. Those under 13 also cannot post videos, comment or message others, he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

TikTok CEO grilled: Here are key takeaways from Shou Zi Chew’s Congress hearing

TikTok CEO Shou Chew told lawmakers the company does not currently sell user data to commercial data brokers, but under questioning from Rep. Debbie Dingell, he could not commit that the company would never sell user data. "There are certain members of our industry who do this," he said.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew testifies at congressional hearing

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s testimony before a US congressional hearing that lasted&nbsp;for almost five hours was gruelling and relentless.&nbsp;He faced a volley of questions over security concerns and the potential Chinese government’s influence.

This was Chow’s first-ever appearance before the US lawmakers as the TikTok CEO. The hearing witnessed a rare bipartisan call for banning the app on Thursday even as the 40-year-old tried to assuage their concerns saying, “Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country.”

But the lawmakers kept raising the heat as they wanted to know whether the Chinese government had access to TikTok’s millions of users’ data.

During her line of questioning, US lawmaker Debbie Lesko quoted India and other countries that have recently banned TikTok in some form.

"This (TikTok) is a tool which is ultimately under the control of the Chinese government and screams out with national security concerns Mr Chew. How can all of these countries and our FBI director be wrong? asked Lesko.

To which Chew responded, “I think a lot of risks pointed out are hypothetical and theoretical risks. I have not seen any evidence."

<h2>TikTok CEO grilled over alleged China ties by US lawmakers for 5 hours</h2>

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The US lawmaker reiterated and stressed the India ban again.

"India banned TikTok in 2020. On March 21, a Forbes article revealed how data of Indian citizens who used TikTok remained accessible to employees at the company and its Beijing-based parent. A current TikTok employee told Forbes that nearly anyone with basic access to company tools can easily look up the closest contact and other sensitive information about any user," Lesko informed her colleagues.

Chew responded by saying that they are looking into the testimony of the TikTok employee quoted by Forbes and asserted that he disagrees with the conclusions drawn from that article.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-users-descend-on-us-capitol-to-protest-against-calls-for-ban-on-app-574916">TikTok users descend on US Capitol to protest against calls for ban on app</a>

"This is a recent article; I have asked my team to look into it. We have rigorous data access protocols. There is no such thing that anybody can access the tools. So, I disagree with a lot of the conclusions," Chew said.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-assures-us-lawmakers-legacy-data-will-be-deleted-this-year-575125">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew assures US lawmakers 'legacy' data will be deleted this year</a>

In 2020, India banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps over privacy and security concerns. The ban was imposed shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at the Ladakh border in Galwan Valley LAC where 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

The companies were given a chance to respond to questions on privacy and security requirements but the ban was made permanent in January 2021.

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s testimony before a US congressional hearing that lasted for almost five hours was gruelling and relentless. He faced a volley of questions over security concerns and the potential Chinese government’s influence.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s testimony before a US congressional hearing that lasted for almost five hours was gruelling and relentless. He faced a volley of questions over security concerns and the potential Chinese government’s influence. This was Chow’s first-ever appearance before the US lawmakers as the TikTok CEO. The hearing witnessed a rare bipartisan call for banning the app on Thursday even as the 40-year-old tried to assuage their concerns saying, “Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country.” But the lawmakers kept raising the heat as they wanted to know whether the Chinese government had access to TikTok’s millions of users’ data. During her line of questioning, US lawmaker Debbie Lesko quoted India and other countries that have recently banned TikTok in some form. "This (TikTok) is a tool which is ultimately under the control of the Chinese government and screams out with national security concerns Mr Chew. How can all of these countries and our FBI director be wrong? asked Lesko. To which Chew responded, “I think a lot of risks pointed out are hypothetical and theoretical risks. I have not seen any evidence." TikTok CEO grilled over alleged China ties by US lawmakers for 5 hours The US lawmaker reiterated and stressed the India ban again. "India banned TikTok in 2020. On March 21, a Forbes article revealed how data of Indian citizens who used TikTok remained accessible to employees at the company and its Beijing-based parent. A current TikTok employee told Forbes that nearly anyone with basic access to company tools can easily look up the closest contact and other sensitive information about any user," Lesko informed her colleagues. Chew responded by saying that they are looking into the testimony of the TikTok employee quoted by Forbes and asserted that he disagrees with the conclusions drawn from that article. Also read | TikTok users descend on US Capitol to protest against calls for ban on app "This is a recent article; I have asked my team to look into it. We have rigorous data access protocols. There is no such thing that anybody can access the tools. So, I disagree with a lot of the conclusions," Chew said. Also read | TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew assures US lawmakers 'legacy' data will be deleted this year In 2020, India banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps over privacy and security concerns. The ban was imposed shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at the Ladakh border in Galwan Valley LAC where 20 Indian soldiers were killed. The companies were given a chance to respond to questions on privacy and security requirements but the ban was made permanent in January 2021. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘No evidence, hypothetical’: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on India’s reasons to ban app

TikTok CEO faced relentless questioning from combative US lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle. Lawmakers quizzed Shou Zi Chew over the video sharing apps' alleged ties to China and its possible danger to teenagers.

Global crackdown on TikTok: US lawmakers want nationwide ban on app

Joining the government in its stand against TikTok, British parliament on Tuesday (March 23) said the Chinese-owned social media app wil be banned. This will deprive the lawmakers of access to the app using the parliament's internet network.

The announcement came as TikTok's chief executive Shou Zi Chew appeared before a hostile US Congress over its alleged ties to the communist government in Beijing.

The app "will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network", the House of Commons and House of Lords said, adding: "Cyber security is a top priority for parliament."

Lawmakers who are active on TikTok can use the app on their own phones but they will not be able to do when connected via parliament's wifi.

UK's Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps, who is active on Twitter, said he would comply with the ban on his government phone, but still use the app on his own devices.

The devolved government of Scotland announced Thursday that it would also ban the app on its official devices.

TikTok is facing flak particularly in Western countries where concerns of app being used for espionage are being raised

TikTok's owner ByteDance and the Chinese government have dismissed the security fears over the app and denounced the Western bans as politically motivated.

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Joining the government in its stand against TikTok, British parliament on Tuesday (March 23) said the Chinese-owned social media app wil be banned. This will deprive the lawmakers of access to the app using the parliament's internet network.

Joining the government in its stand against TikTok, British parliament on Tuesday (March 23) said the Chinese-owned social media app wil be banned. This will deprive the lawmakers of access to the app using the parliament's internet network. The announcement came as TikTok's chief executive Shou Zi Chew appeared before a hostile US Congress over its alleged ties to the communist government in Beijing. The app "will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network", the House of Commons and House of Lords said, adding: "Cyber security is a top priority for parliament." Lawmakers who are active on TikTok can use the app on their own phones but they will not be able to do when connected via parliament's wifi. UK's Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps, who is active on Twitter, said he would comply with the ban on his government phone, but still use the app on his own devices. The devolved government of Scotland announced Thursday that it would also ban the app on its official devices. TikTok is facing flak particularly in Western countries where concerns of app being used for espionage are being raised TikTok's owner ByteDance and the Chinese government have dismissed the security fears over the app and denounced the Western bans as politically motivated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UK parliament joins forces with government, bans TikTok

A report by the news agency AFP citing a ministerial source said that France, as of Friday (March 24) has banned public sector employees from downloading “recreational applications” including the Chinese-owned TikTok on their work phones. This comes after a number of countries in the West have banned the short video-sharing app from phones particularly those with access to its lawmakers citing national and cybersecurity concerns.&nbsp;

The ban also follows restrictions placed in European countries, “the government has decided from now on to ban the downloading and installation of recreational applications on professional telephones given to public servants,” said the public services ministry, reported AFP.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-are-countries-banning-tiktok-573111">Explained: Why are countries banning TikTok?</a>

It added, “Recreational applications do not present sufficient levels of cybersecurity and data protection to be deployed on administrative equipment”. The European Commission and countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and recently New Zealand have told government officials that they cannot use TikTok on work devices over fears of its ties to the Chinese government.&nbsp;

The anonymous source also told AFP, that the ban would include, “game apps like Candy Crush, streaming apps like Netflix and recreational apps like TikTok”. However, Beijing has recently said that it does not ask companies to hand over data gathered overseas.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-is-shou-zi-chew-the-tiktok-ceo-attempting-to-save-its-us-operations-574876">EXPLAINED | Who is Shou Zi Chew? TikTok CEO attempting to save its US operations</a>

China has “never and will not require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located in a foreign country, in a way that violates local law,” said China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, on Friday. But the firm had previously reportedly acknowledged that some of its employees in Beijing could access European user data while insisting that the Chinese government has no control over or access to its data.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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A report by the news agency AFP citing a ministerial source said that France, as of Friday (March 24) has banned public sector employees from downloading “recreational applications” including the Chinese-owned TikTok on their work phones.

A report by the news agency AFP citing a ministerial source said that France, as of Friday (March 24) has banned public sector employees from downloading “recreational applications” including the Chinese-owned TikTok on their work phones. This comes after a number of countries in the West have banned the short video-sharing app from phones particularly those with access to its lawmakers citing national and cybersecurity concerns. The ban also follows restrictions placed in European countries, “the government has decided from now on to ban the downloading and installation of recreational applications on professional telephones given to public servants,” said the public services ministry, reported AFP. ALSO READ | Explained: Why are countries banning TikTok? It added, “Recreational applications do not present sufficient levels of cybersecurity and data protection to be deployed on administrative equipment”. The European Commission and countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and recently New Zealand have told government officials that they cannot use TikTok on work devices over fears of its ties to the Chinese government. The anonymous source also told AFP, that the ban would include, “game apps like Candy Crush, streaming apps like Netflix and recreational apps like TikTok”. However, Beijing has recently said that it does not ask companies to hand over data gathered overseas. ALSO READ | EXPLAINED | Who is Shou Zi Chew? TikTok CEO attempting to save its US operations China has “never and will not require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located in a foreign country, in a way that violates local law,” said China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, on Friday. But the firm had previously reportedly acknowledged that some of its employees in Beijing could access European user data while insisting that the Chinese government has no control over or access to its data. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

France bans ‘recreational’ apps like TikTok from public sector employees’ work phones

A new section of social media influencers is taking over the internet and these are called ‘cleanfluencers.’ Millions of people watch them scour dirty houses and dish out cleaning tips, and they have a sizable fan base. Auri Kananen, a cleanfluencer who has far more social media followers than Kondo, the Japanese tidying guru. In her videos, she cleans the places, she also explains why the location is so filthy and unpleasant.

Cleanfluencers take TikTok by storm

TikTok CEO grilled over alleged China ties by US lawmakers for 5 hours

Tiktok faces an existential threat as CEO Shou Zi Chew faces hours of relentless questioning. Bruton Kelso, tech expert and analyst joins us to discuss the implications.

US lawmakers push for TikTok ban

TikTok must have known they were in for a grilling. In anticipation of CEO Shou Zi Chew’s Thursday appearance before a House committee, more than 20 TikTok influencers flocked to the hallowed halls of Congress this week, as the Chinese company amped up its lobbying effort against a proposed ban on the app in the United States.

TikTok CEO grilled by US lawmakers

Over two dozen state governments in the United States have placed web-tracking code made by TikTok's parent company ByteDance on their official websites. Citing a report from Toronto-based company Feroot Security, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday (March 21) that a review of websites of over 3,500 companies, organisations and governments entities by Feroot found that the so-called tracking pixels from ByteDance were present in 30 American state government websites across 27 states, including those where TikTok was banned from state networks and devices.&nbsp;

The report said that administrators who manage government websites use such pixels to help measure the effectiveness of advertising they have purchased on TikTok. This helps government agencies determine how many people saw an advertisement on the social media platform and took an action such as visiting a website or signing up for a service.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-to-testify-that-app-has-never-shared-data-with-chinese-government-574637">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to testify that app never shared users’ data with Chinese government</a>

The report added that pixels' proliferation offers another vector for data collection beyond TikTok's mobile app, which has been severely criticised in the US as a possible way for China to collect data on American citizens.&nbsp;

Feroot's Chief Executive Ivan Tsarynny said that TikTok's pixels could be watching and recording people when they are reviewing their driver's licence, paying taxes or filing out doctors' forms. Tsarynny said that pixels should be removed from the websites of government agencies and companies which collect personal details.&nbsp;

Security experts have pointed out that while web-tracking pixels ostensibly aim to better pinpoint advertising, they also pose privacy threats.&nbsp;

Replicating a sampling of Feroot Security's findings, The Wall Street Journal identified TikTok tracking pixel in the code of a Maryland Department of Health Covid website and a Utah government website aimed at helping job seekers. Recently, both Maryland and Utah issued executive orders banning TikTok from state-owned devices and networks.&nbsp;

However, this tracking pixel remained embedded in these two websites as recently as last week.

Speaking to the publication, a spokesperson from the Utah Department of Workforce Services said that the department works with an advertising agency to run educational campaigns that inform the state's residents about how to access programmes that could help them get a better jobs. The spokesperson added the tracking pixel was used in such a campaign.&nbsp;

On the other hand, a spokesperson from Maryland's health department said that the pixel on its website was part of an advertising campaign launched in August and the state was investigating why it remained on the site after the campaign ended. The spokesperson added that the pixel was removed as of March 17.&nbsp;

A spokesperson from TikTok, meanwhile, said that the data that the platform receives from advertisers are used to improve the effectiveness of our advertising services.&nbsp;

“Our terms instruct advertisers not to share certain data with us, and we continuously work with our partners to avoid inadvertent transmission of such data," the spokesperson added.&nbsp; 
 
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Over two dozen state governments in the United States have placed web-tracking code made by TikTok's parent company ByteDance on their official websites. Citing a report from Toronto-based company Feroot Security, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday (March 21) that a review of websites of over 3,500 companies, organisations and governments entities by Feroot found that the so-called tracking pixels from ByteDance were present in 30 American state government websites across 27 states, including those where TikTok was banned from state networks and devices.

Over two dozen state governments in the United States have placed web-tracking code made by TikTok's parent company ByteDance on their official websites. Citing a report from Toronto-based company Feroot Security, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday (March 21) that a review of websites of over 3,500 companies, organisations and governments entities by Feroot found that the so-called tracking pixels from ByteDance were present in 30 American state government websites across 27 states, including those where TikTok was banned from state networks and devices. The report said that administrators who manage government websites use such pixels to help measure the effectiveness of advertising they have purchased on TikTok. This helps government agencies determine how many people saw an advertisement on the social media platform and took an action such as visiting a website or signing up for a service. ALSO READ | TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to testify that app never shared users’ data with Chinese government The report added that pixels' proliferation offers another vector for data collection beyond TikTok's mobile app, which has been severely criticised in the US as a possible way for China to collect data on American citizens. Feroot's Chief Executive Ivan Tsarynny said that TikTok's pixels could be watching and recording people when they are reviewing their driver's licence, paying taxes or filing out doctors' forms. Tsarynny said that pixels should be removed from the websites of government agencies and companies which collect personal details. Security experts have pointed out that while web-tracking pixels ostensibly aim to better pinpoint advertising, they also pose privacy threats. Replicating a sampling of Feroot Security's findings, The Wall Street Journal identified TikTok tracking pixel in the code of a Maryland Department of Health Covid website and a Utah government website aimed at helping job seekers. Recently, both Maryland and Utah issued executive orders banning TikTok from state-owned devices and networks. However, this tracking pixel remained embedded in these two websites as recently as last week. Speaking to the publication, a spokesperson from the Utah Department of Workforce Services said that the department works with an advertising agency to run educational campaigns that inform the state's residents about how to access programmes that could help them get a better jobs. The spokesperson added the tracking pixel was used in such a campaign. On the other hand, a spokesperson from Maryland's health department said that the pixel on its website was part of an advertising campaign launched in August and the state was investigating why it remained on the site after the campaign ended. The spokesperson added that the pixel was removed as of March 17. A spokesperson from TikTok, meanwhile, said that the data that the platform receives from advertisers are used to improve the effectiveness of our advertising services. “Our terms instruct advertisers not to share certain data with us, and we continuously work with our partners to avoid inadvertent transmission of such data," the spokesperson added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Over two dozen state govts use trackers made by TikTok’s parent company, says report

A group of content creators on the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok descended on the US Capitol on Wednesday (March 22) to protest against the calls for a ban on the app. According to a report by the news agency AFP early Thursday, the group of around a dozen teenagers, teachers and business owners rallied at Congress to discuss their opposition to the potential ban (on TikTok) and also draw attention to the benefits of the app on their livelihoods.&nbsp;

An aspiring soapmaking entrepreneur who goes by the username @countrylather2020 on TikTok said that she kind of built her business on the app, and the potential ban somewhat posed problems. "Are there other platforms out there? Absolutely -- I'm on them. But none of them have the reach that TikTok has," she said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-is-shou-zi-chew-the-tiktok-ceo-attempting-to-save-its-us-operations-574876">EXPLAINED: &nbsp;Who is Shou Zi Chew? TikTok CEO attempting to save its US operations</a>

Another creator on TikTok Jason Linton, who uses the platform to share videos of his three adopted children and has interacted with people worldwide, opposed the ban. "I am asking our politicians - don't take away the community that we've all built - a community that lasts, that loves," Linton said during a press conference on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Apart from content creators, three Democratic Party lawmakers are also protesting against the ban. Lawmaker Mark Pocan said that a "xenophobic witch hunt" was motivating some in Congress to seek a ban, a report by the news agency Reuters said. "Banning TikTok isn't the answer. Making sure Americans' data is safe is," Pocan added.

Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat leader, said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that TikTok was a threat that needed to be addressed but it was not the only surveillance threat to young people.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-over-two-dozen-state-govts-use-trackers-made-by-tiktoks-parent-company-report-574758">US: Over two dozen state govts use trackers made by TikTok’s parent company, says report</a>

American government officials and lawmakers have said that ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, can pass users' data to the Chinese government and are calling for the platform to be removed from app stores unless it is sold to a US firm.&nbsp;

Later on Thursday, TikTok's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) &nbsp;Shou Zi Chew will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee and face questions from lawmakers who want to ban the app. On Tuesday, Chew said that TikTok had over &nbsp;150 million active monthly US users, representing almost half of the country's population and up from the 100 million US users it had back in 2020.

"Some politicians have started talking about banning TikTok. Now, this could take TikTok away from all 150 million of you," he said in a video posted on the app.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A group of content creators on the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok descended on the US Capitol on Wednesday (March 22) to protest against the calls for a ban on the app.

A group of content creators on the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok descended on the US Capitol on Wednesday (March 22) to protest against the calls for a ban on the app. According to a report by the news agency AFP early Thursday, the group of around a dozen teenagers, teachers and business owners rallied at Congress to discuss their opposition to the potential ban (on TikTok) and also draw attention to the benefits of the app on their livelihoods. An aspiring soapmaking entrepreneur who goes by the username @countrylather2020 on TikTok said that she kind of built her business on the app, and the potential ban somewhat posed problems. "Are there other platforms out there? Absolutely -- I'm on them. But none of them have the reach that TikTok has," she said. ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: Who is Shou Zi Chew? TikTok CEO attempting to save its US operations Another creator on TikTok Jason Linton, who uses the platform to share videos of his three adopted children and has interacted with people worldwide, opposed the ban. "I am asking our politicians - don't take away the community that we've all built - a community that lasts, that loves," Linton said during a press conference on Wednesday. Apart from content creators, three Democratic Party lawmakers are also protesting against the ban. Lawmaker Mark Pocan said that a "xenophobic witch hunt" was motivating some in Congress to seek a ban, a report by the news agency Reuters said. "Banning TikTok isn't the answer. Making sure Americans' data is safe is," Pocan added. Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat leader, said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that TikTok was a threat that needed to be addressed but it was not the only surveillance threat to young people. ALSO READ | US: Over two dozen state govts use trackers made by TikTok’s parent company, says report American government officials and lawmakers have said that ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, can pass users' data to the Chinese government and are calling for the platform to be removed from app stores unless it is sold to a US firm. Later on Thursday, TikTok's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shou Zi Chew will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee and face questions from lawmakers who want to ban the app. On Tuesday, Chew said that TikTok had over 150 million active monthly US users, representing almost half of the country's population and up from the 100 million US users it had back in 2020. "Some politicians have started talking about banning TikTok. Now, this could take TikTok away from all 150 million of you," he said in a video posted on the app. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok users descend on US Capitol to protest against calls for ban on app

Even as TikTok is confronted with a pushback from US government quarters over concerns of app's alleged spying and data sharing, the video hosting platform is reluctant to become irrelevant in the country. As per a latest report by TikTok, the number of users on the platform has&nbsp;seen an uptick and has reached&nbsp;150 million monthly active users in the US.&nbsp;

The application had 100 million monthly active users in 2020. The Chinese application is already thriving in US. It has become the source of many entertaining and viral trends.&nbsp;

The development comes as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is all set to testify before US House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday.&nbsp;US President Joe Biden in December last year signed a bill banning the Chinese app on devices of federal government employees.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-a-setback-for-india-fugitive-businessman-mehul-choksi-removed-from-interpol-red-notice-list-574114">In a setback for India, fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi removed from Interpol Red Notice List</a>

The move was taken amid concerns that the app, which is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance, poses a threat to national security.&nbsp;

US government had earlier levelled allegations on TikTok saying that the application shares users' data with the Chinese government, an accusation that the Chinese app has refuted.&nbsp;

As per TikTok data, over one billion people worldwide use the app to learn something new or connect generally with others holding shared interests.&nbsp;Earlier, Biden gave&nbsp;an ultimatum to TikTok saying that the application will face a potential ban unless its Chinese owners divest their stake&nbsp;in it.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-murder-shraddha-walkars-audio-clip-played-in-court-gut-wrenching-accounts-make-father-tremble-574130">Delhi Murder: Shraddha Walkar's audio clip played in court, gut-wrenching accounts make father tremble</a>

Reacting to this, the TikTok spokesperson Maureen Shanahan said, “If protecting national security is the objective, divestment doesn’t solve the problem."&nbsp;

“A change in ownership would not impose any new restrictions on data flows or access. The best way to address concerns about national security is with the transparent, US-based protection of US user data and systems, with robust third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification, which we are already implementing," Shanahan added as per a CNN report.&nbsp;

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-protest-police-fire-tear-gas-on-protestors-574080">France protest: Police fire tear gas on protestors</a>

Before the CEO faces the US congress, TikTok is apparently going out on an all-out PR effort to position itself as an application highly focused on the security of its users' data.&nbsp;

According to a Bloomberg report, the company took out a four-page colour ad in New York Times on Monday. A QR code in the ad takes the person who scans it to a page where a cartoon video elaborates on how the video hosting platform has invested $1.5 billion in security.

The company also gave ads in the Washington Metro system, at Union Station and in the Washington Post along with sponsoring Politico’s Playbook newsletter and Axios’s tech-focused Login newsletter.&nbsp;

Moreover, in what appeared to be company's corporate strategy to distance itself from the Chinese government, TikTok earlier also took out&nbsp;ads in Australian newspapers. As per reports, a TikTok ad in The Australian read the tagline “Don’t make TikTok a political football."

There are also reports suggesting that TikTok has an "army of lobbyists" which is trying to change the opinion of influential people in Washington to avoid a ban on the Chinese app.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
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Even as TikTok is confronted with a pushback from US government quarters over concerns of app's alleged spying and data sharing, the video hosting platform is reluctant to become irrelevant in the country.

Even as TikTok is confronted with a pushback from US government quarters over concerns of app's alleged spying and data sharing, the video hosting platform is reluctant to become irrelevant in the country. As per a latest report by TikTok, the number of users on the platform has seen an uptick and has reached 150 million monthly active users in the US. The application had 100 million monthly active users in 2020. The Chinese application is already thriving in US. It has become the source of many entertaining and viral trends. The development comes as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is all set to testify before US House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday. US President Joe Biden in December last year signed a bill banning the Chinese app on devices of federal government employees. Also Read | In a setback for India, fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi removed from Interpol Red Notice List The move was taken amid concerns that the app, which is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance, poses a threat to national security. US government had earlier levelled allegations on TikTok saying that the application shares users' data with the Chinese government, an accusation that the Chinese app has refuted. As per TikTok data, over one billion people worldwide use the app to learn something new or connect generally with others holding shared interests. Earlier, Biden gave an ultimatum to TikTok saying that the application will face a potential ban unless its Chinese owners divest their stake in it. Also Read | Delhi Murder: Shraddha Walkar's audio clip played in court, gut-wrenching accounts make father tremble Reacting to this, the TikTok spokesperson Maureen Shanahan said, “If protecting national security is the objective, divestment doesn’t solve the problem." “A change in ownership would not impose any new restrictions on data flows or access. The best way to address concerns about national security is with the transparent, US-based protection of US user data and systems, with robust third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification, which we are already implementing," Shanahan added as per a CNN report. Watch | France protest: Police fire tear gas on protestors Before the CEO faces the US congress, TikTok is apparently going out on an all-out PR effort to position itself as an application highly focused on the security of its users' data. According to a Bloomberg report, the company took out a four-page colour ad in New York Times on Monday. A QR code in the ad takes the person who scans it to a page where a cartoon video elaborates on how the video hosting platform has invested $1.5 billion in security. The company also gave ads in the Washington Metro system, at Union Station and in the Washington Post along with sponsoring Politico’s Playbook newsletter and Axios’s tech-focused Login newsletter. Moreover, in what appeared to be company's corporate strategy to distance itself from the Chinese government, TikTok earlier also took out ads in Australian newspapers. As per reports, a TikTok ad in The Australian read the tagline “Don’t make TikTok a political football." There are also reports suggesting that TikTok has an "army of lobbyists" which is trying to change the opinion of influential people in Washington to avoid a ban on the Chinese app. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok’s monthly active users in US jump to 150mn, firm launches PR exercise to fix sullied image

According to a new report from a cybersecurity company, more than two dozen state governments have placed web-tracking code made by TikTok parent ByteDance Ltd. on official websites.

TikTok trackers embedded in US state-government websites

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify Thursday in front of US lawmakers that the Chinese-owned app has never shared the data of US users with the government in China. The app, with over 150 million American users, has faced allegations that it shares user data with China, raising national security concerns.

“TikTok has never shared, or received a request to share, US user data with the Chinese government. Nor would TikTok honour such a request if one were ever made,” Chew will testify on Thursday, according to a written testimony posted on Tuesday by the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.

The written testimony also says that TikTok's parent company ByteDance is not owned or controlled by any government or state entity. "Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country."

Calls for banning the app in the US have been growing, with lawmakers fearing that the app passes on data to the Chinese government. Several states have already banned its use on government devices. TikTok says that the Biden administration has asked Chinese owners to divest their stake in the app, or else it could face a ban in the country.

"Bans are only appropriate when there are no alternatives. But we do have an alternative," Chew's testimony said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-monthly-active-users-in-us-jump-to-150-million-ceo-set-to-testify-before-congress-574185">TikTok's monthly active users in US jump to 150mn, company makes PR effort to tackle sullied image</a>

TikTok has said that in order to make the app more secure, it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts under the name "Project Texas". The company is also trying to convince lawmakers and the Biden administration to support the plan.

In 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) unanimously recommended that ByteDance divest TikTok. ByteDance sought a deal with Walmart and Oracle to shift TikTok's US assets into a new entity but failed to reach a deal.&nbsp;

The video app has been in talks with CFIUS for more than two years, trying to reach an agreement on protecting data.

A special-purpose subsidiary, TikTok US Data Security (USDS), was formed which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees. It has entered a contract with Oracle to store TikTok’s US user data.

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Chew said when the process is complete, "all protected US data will be under the protection of US law and under the control of the U.S.-led security team. Under this structure, there is no way for the Chinese government to access it or compel access to it."

According to Chew's testimony, 60 per cent of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors, including Blackrock, General Atlantic, and Sequoia, about 20 per cent by the company’s founders, and about 20 per cent by its employees "including thousands of Americans."

(With inputs from agencies)

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify Thursday in front of US lawmakers that the Chinese-owned app has never shared the data of US users with the government in China.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify Thursday in front of US lawmakers that the Chinese-owned app has never shared the data of US users with the government in China. The app, with over 150 million American users, has faced allegations that it shares user data with China, raising national security concerns. “TikTok has never shared, or received a request to share, US user data with the Chinese government. Nor would TikTok honour such a request if one were ever made,” Chew will testify on Thursday, according to a written testimony posted on Tuesday by the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. The written testimony also says that TikTok's parent company ByteDance is not owned or controlled by any government or state entity. "Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country." Calls for banning the app in the US have been growing, with lawmakers fearing that the app passes on data to the Chinese government. Several states have already banned its use on government devices. TikTok says that the Biden administration has asked Chinese owners to divest their stake in the app, or else it could face a ban in the country. "Bans are only appropriate when there are no alternatives. But we do have an alternative," Chew's testimony said. Also Read | TikTok's monthly active users in US jump to 150mn, company makes PR effort to tackle sullied image TikTok has said that in order to make the app more secure, it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts under the name "Project Texas". The company is also trying to convince lawmakers and the Biden administration to support the plan. In 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) unanimously recommended that ByteDance divest TikTok. ByteDance sought a deal with Walmart and Oracle to shift TikTok's US assets into a new entity but failed to reach a deal. The video app has been in talks with CFIUS for more than two years, trying to reach an agreement on protecting data. A special-purpose subsidiary, TikTok US Data Security (USDS), was formed which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees. It has entered a contract with Oracle to store TikTok’s US user data. × Chew said when the process is complete, "all protected US data will be under the protection of US law and under the control of the U.S.-led security team. Under this structure, there is no way for the Chinese government to access it or compel access to it." According to Chew's testimony, 60 per cent of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors, including Blackrock, General Atlantic, and Sequoia, about 20 per cent by the company’s founders, and about 20 per cent by its employees "including thousands of Americans." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to testify that app never shared users’ data with Chinese government

TikTok denies data transfer: As a major global economies including United Kingdom and United States and New Zealand, banned or restricted the use of TikTok. The CEO of the Chinese short video app Shou Zi Chew has declared and clarified that it doesn't transfer data to the Chinese government.

TikTok denies transferring data to China, CEO says 'never shared users' data'

British broadcaster BBC has urged its staff to delete TikTok from corporate mobile phones due to privacy and security concerns about the Chinese-owned video sharing app.&nbsp;

UK-based media outlets reported that BBC staff received a guidance on Sunday, which read: "We don't recommend installing TikTok on a BBC corporate device unless there is a justified business reason. If you do not need TikTok for business reasons, TikTok should be deleted."&nbsp;

This comes days after the UK announced a ban on TikTok on government devices. The decision was in line with similar actions by European Union, the United States and New Zealand. India had entirely banned the app.

UK Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden told parliament, "We are going to ban the use of TikTok on government devices. We will do so with immediate effect."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/tiktoks-lesser-known-sibling-capcut-making-waves-in-video-editing-world-573795">TikTok’s lesser-known sibling, CapCut, making waves in US. But is it safe?</a>&nbsp;

There are growing concerns over data security risks as several experts pointed out that the app might be used to promote pro-China views and illegally gather data of users.&nbsp;

As quoted, the BBC guidance further noted: "The decision is based on concerns raised by government authorities worldwide regarding data privacy and security."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;After UK, New Zealand to ban TIKTOK app on government devices&nbsp;

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It is also reported that the broadcaster has asked the employees who have TikTok on their phones and use the same device for official work, to reach out to the information security team of the company to get the details and discuss "the type of BBC information that you are working with".&nbsp;

As quoted, a BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC takes the safety and security of our systems, data and people incredibly seriously. We constantly review activity on third-party platforms – including TikTok – and will continue to do so."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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British broadcaster BBC has urged its staff to delete TikTok from corporate mobile phones due to privacy and security concerns about the Chinese-owned video sharing app.

British broadcaster BBC has urged its staff to delete TikTok from corporate mobile phones due to privacy and security concerns about the Chinese-owned video sharing app. UK-based media outlets reported that BBC staff received a guidance on Sunday, which read: "We don't recommend installing TikTok on a BBC corporate device unless there is a justified business reason. If you do not need TikTok for business reasons, TikTok should be deleted." This comes days after the UK announced a ban on TikTok on government devices. The decision was in line with similar actions by European Union, the United States and New Zealand. India had entirely banned the app. UK Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden told parliament, "We are going to ban the use of TikTok on government devices. We will do so with immediate effect." ALSO READ | TikTok’s lesser-known sibling, CapCut, making waves in US. But is it safe? There are growing concerns over data security risks as several experts pointed out that the app might be used to promote pro-China views and illegally gather data of users. As quoted, the BBC guidance further noted: "The decision is based on concerns raised by government authorities worldwide regarding data privacy and security." WATCH | After UK, New Zealand to ban TIKTOK app on government devices × It is also reported that the broadcaster has asked the employees who have TikTok on their phones and use the same device for official work, to reach out to the information security team of the company to get the details and discuss "the type of BBC information that you are working with". As quoted, a BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC takes the safety and security of our systems, data and people incredibly seriously. We constantly review activity on third-party platforms – including TikTok – and will continue to do so." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

BBC asks staff to delete TikTok from mobile phones over privacy and security concerns

Chinese application TikTok has long been under spotlight for its huge craze in US communities. But another tool by owner company ByteDance Ltd is now gaining eyeballs and is becoming an emerging player in the world of video-editing tools in United States.&nbsp;It is TikTok’s lesser-known sibling, CapCut.&nbsp;

While TikTok has long been surrounded by allegations of spying and is banned in several countries amid security concerns, the new video editing app is gaining popularity for completely different reasons.&nbsp;

CapCut is an application that helps users edit their videos making them much more professional. Several editing features are available in the video editing tool. One can make use of various templates, use many available filters, apply visual effects and put background music in their videos with the aid of the application.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The app stores the data in the US and Singapore, same as TikTok.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-arrested-after-khalistani-extremists-vandalised-indian-high-commission-in-uk-573718">One arrested after Khalistani extremists vandalise Indian High Commission in UK</a>

The videos edited by CapCut can be used not just for TikTok, Facebook and Instagram but also for YouTube because of the way it edits the video in a professional fashion.&nbsp;

The application was launched in 2020, however it is seemed to have grown tremendously in the recent times. According to statistics by Shanghai-based data tracker Diandian, the video editing tool has over 200 million monthly active users.&nbsp;

While on one side, TikTok continues to face increased scrutiny over suspicions of data theft, the sibling app CapCut is not facing the same fate so far.&nbsp;

Even as the calls for TikTok ban grows, the Chinese video hosting app maintains a steadfast position that it never shared the user data with the Chinese authorities or spied on any government.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-african-investigator-cloete-murray-who-looked-into-state-corruptions-shot-dead-573769">South African investigator Cloete Murray, who looked into state corruptions, shot dead</a>

Meanwhile, as per CapCut's privacy policy, the video editing app collects photos, videos, user's location, gender and date of birth. These are some of the common things that video-editing apps use.&nbsp;But is it safe?&nbsp;

Last year, the application was topping the app-stores charts &nbsp;in terms of number of downloads in US standing tall alongside other popular apps like TikTok and online fashion store Shein.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/after-iran-saudi-pact-china-to-play-peacemaker-in-ukraine-war-573689">After Iran-Saudi pact, China to play peacemaker in Ukraine war?</a>

The app, till last year, did not come with any chargeable fees but it started charging users for cloud storage service and for some of its premium options. The company is also recruiting people for designing templates.&nbsp;CapCut along with several other Chinese apps are banned in India.&nbsp;

As per Sensor Tower,&nbsp;CapCut’s global downloads spiked to 43 per cent&nbsp;to over 400 million last year. About 7 per cent of its global downloads since last year came just from United States.&nbsp;

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Chinese application TikTok has long been under spotlight for its huge craze in US communities. But another tool by owner company ByteDance Ltd is now gaining eyeballs and is becoming an emerging player in the world of video-editing tools in United States.

Chinese application TikTok has long been under spotlight for its huge craze in US communities. But another tool by owner company ByteDance Ltd is now gaining eyeballs and is becoming an emerging player in the world of video-editing tools in United States. It is TikTok’s lesser-known sibling, CapCut. While TikTok has long been surrounded by allegations of spying and is banned in several countries amid security concerns, the new video editing app is gaining popularity for completely different reasons. CapCut is an application that helps users edit their videos making them much more professional. Several editing features are available in the video editing tool. One can make use of various templates, use many available filters, apply visual effects and put background music in their videos with the aid of the application. The app stores the data in the US and Singapore, same as TikTok. Also Read | One arrested after Khalistani extremists vandalise Indian High Commission in UK The videos edited by CapCut can be used not just for TikTok, Facebook and Instagram but also for YouTube because of the way it edits the video in a professional fashion. The application was launched in 2020, however it is seemed to have grown tremendously in the recent times. According to statistics by Shanghai-based data tracker Diandian, the video editing tool has over 200 million monthly active users. While on one side, TikTok continues to face increased scrutiny over suspicions of data theft, the sibling app CapCut is not facing the same fate so far. Even as the calls for TikTok ban grows, the Chinese video hosting app maintains a steadfast position that it never shared the user data with the Chinese authorities or spied on any government. Also Read | South African investigator Cloete Murray, who looked into state corruptions, shot dead Meanwhile, as per CapCut's privacy policy, the video editing app collects photos, videos, user's location, gender and date of birth. These are some of the common things that video-editing apps use. But is it safe? Last year, the application was topping the app-stores charts in terms of number of downloads in US standing tall alongside other popular apps like TikTok and online fashion store Shein. Watch | After Iran-Saudi pact, China to play peacemaker in Ukraine war? The app, till last year, did not come with any chargeable fees but it started charging users for cloud storage service and for some of its premium options. The company is also recruiting people for designing templates. CapCut along with several other Chinese apps are banned in India. As per Sensor Tower, CapCut’s global downloads spiked to 43 per cent to over 400 million last year. About 7 per cent of its global downloads since last year came just from United States. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok’s lesser-known sibling, CapCut, making waves in US. But is it safe?

TikTok, the video-sharing application owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is being investigated by the US Department of Justice and FBI over the allegations of its employees spying on journalists, said a law enforcement official on Friday as per media reports.

Justice Department prosecutors are conducting the investigation in the Eastern District of Virginia and in Washington along with the FBI, said the officials.

While speaking to NBC about the news report, a spokesperson of ByteDance said, "We have strongly condemned the actions of the individuals found to have been involved, and they are no longer employed at ByteDance. Our internal investigation is still ongoing, and we will co-operate with any official investigations when brought to us."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-are-countries-banning-tiktok-573111">Explained: Why are countries banning TikTok?</a>

Forbes first reported about the investigation on Thursday, stating that the company fired the employees who were implicated in the surveillance after it was confirmed that efforts were being made by them to discover the sources of leaks and business documents to journalists.

An investigation by ByteDance found that employees of the company gained access to the IP addresses as well as other data of the reporters as well of some of their contacts which were connected through their accounts on TikTok, reported Forbes.

Investigation into TikTok is going on at a time when concern over the security threats to the citizens of the United States due to TikTok has increased.

A potential ban has been threatened by the Biden administration on the video-sharing application in the United States if its Chinese owners do not agree to sell their stakes in the company.

WATCH | Gravitas: EU purges TikTok from official devices

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The step has been taken after concerns were expressed by US intelligence officials that TikTok can be used by China to spy on Americans or influence public opinion in the United States.

Speaking about the message sent by the White House to TikTok users in the US, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday said, "We’ve expressed concerns over China’s potential use of software platforms that could endanger or threaten America’s safety and their national security. So that is the president’s concern. That is why we have called on Congress to take action."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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TikTok, the video-sharing application owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is being investigated by the US Department of Justice and FBI over the allegations of its employees spying on journalists, said a law enforcement official on Friday as per media reports.

TikTok, the video-sharing application owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is being investigated by the US Department of Justice and FBI over the allegations of its employees spying on journalists, said a law enforcement official on Friday as per media reports. Justice Department prosecutors are conducting the investigation in the Eastern District of Virginia and in Washington along with the FBI, said the officials. While speaking to NBC about the news report, a spokesperson of ByteDance said, "We have strongly condemned the actions of the individuals found to have been involved, and they are no longer employed at ByteDance. Our internal investigation is still ongoing, and we will co-operate with any official investigations when brought to us." ALSO READ | Explained: Why are countries banning TikTok? Forbes first reported about the investigation on Thursday, stating that the company fired the employees who were implicated in the surveillance after it was confirmed that efforts were being made by them to discover the sources of leaks and business documents to journalists. An investigation by ByteDance found that employees of the company gained access to the IP addresses as well as other data of the reporters as well of some of their contacts which were connected through their accounts on TikTok, reported Forbes. Investigation into TikTok is going on at a time when concern over the security threats to the citizens of the United States due to TikTok has increased. A potential ban has been threatened by the Biden administration on the video-sharing application in the United States if its Chinese owners do not agree to sell their stakes in the company. WATCH | Gravitas: EU purges TikTok from official devices The step has been taken after concerns were expressed by US intelligence officials that TikTok can be used by China to spy on Americans or influence public opinion in the United States. Speaking about the message sent by the White House to TikTok users in the US, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday said, "We’ve expressed concerns over China’s potential use of software platforms that could endanger or threaten America’s safety and their national security. So that is the president’s concern. That is why we have called on Congress to take action." (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US Justice Department, FBI investigate TikTok over allegations of spying

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