China may use data from TikTok to spy on people, warns Canada’s security intelligence chief

The chief of Canada's Security Intelligence Service cautioned the people against the use of TikTok stating that the data the application obtains from its users is "available to the government of China."

"My answer as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is that there is a very clear strategy on the part of the government of China to be able to acquire personal information from anyone around the world," CBC News quoted CSIS Director David Vigneault as saying.

TikTok spokesperson in response said, that "these assertions are unsupported by evidence, and the fact is that TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, nor would we if asked."

Earlier, in September last year, Canada ordered a national security review of a proposal that was put forward by TikTok to expand the short-form video hosting application's business in the country.

Vigneault said that he would also take part in the proposal's review and subsequently offer advice, reported CBC.

"We will continue to engage with Canadian officials and would welcome the opportunity to meet with CSIS to discuss how we protect the privacy and security of Canadians," the spokesperson added.

TikTok, ByteDance challenge potential US ban in court

This comes after TikTok and its parent firm ByteDance earlier this month filed a legal challenge against the US targeting a bill signed by President Joe Biden that would push the app to either face a ban in the United States or to be sold.

The development came almost two weeks after Biden passed a law giving the popular short-form video hosting service an ultimatum of 270 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the country.

TikTok argues that the bill signed by the US president was unconstitutional.

"For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than one billion people worldwide," said the suit by TikTok and ByteDance.

The lawsuit by the firm and the short-video sharing platform alleges that the move violates the First Amendment, charging that "Congress has made a law curtailing massive amounts of protected speech."

It further stated that the divestiture demanded for the short video app for it to be functional in the country is "simply not possible".

(With inputs from agencies)