TikTok Could Face FTC Probe Over US Data Access

The US Senate Intelligence Committee chair and high Republican have known as on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to analyze social media app TikTok and Chinese guardian ByteDance resulting from “repeated misrepresentations” over its dealing with of US information.

The request on Tuesday from Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Republican Marco Rubio adopted a Buzzfeed report saying the brief video app permitted TikTok engineers and executives in China to repeatedly entry non-public information of US customers. The senators mentioned such entry raised questions over TikTok’s claims to lawmakers and customers that the info was protected.

“In light of repeated misrepresentations by TikTok concerning its data security, data processing, and corporate governance practices, we urge you to act promptly on this matter,” the senators wrote FTC Chair Lina Khan.

TikTok mentioned Tuesday that entry to information “is subject to a series of robust controls, safeguards like encryption for certain data, and authorisation approval protocols overseen by our US-based leadership/security team.”

The firm responded to the senators’ letter by reiterating “TikTok has never shared US user data with the Chinese government, nor would we if asked.”

The FTC confirmed it had acquired the letter however declined additional remark.

Last week, TikTok instructed US senators it was engaged on a remaining settlement with the Biden Administration that may “fully safeguard user data and US national security interests.”

TikTok acknowledged in a letter Thursday that China-based workers “can have access to TikTok US user data subject to a series of robust cybersecurity controls and authorisation approval protocols overseen by our US-based security team.”

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew instructed senators it was working with Oracle on “new advanced data security controls that we hope to finalise in the near future.”

The senators’ letter cited a BuzzFeed information story about leaked inner recordings that mentioned China-based workers of ByteDance had on the “very least” entry to US information.

TikTok’s letter Thursday mentioned hit had not misled Congress about its information and safety controls and practices.

Last month, TikTok mentioned it had accomplished migrating data on its US customers to servers at Oracle but it surely was nonetheless utilizing US and Singapore information centres for backup.

It has been almost two years since a US nationwide safety panel ordered guardian firm ByteDance to divest TikTok due to fears that US consumer information may very well be handed on to China’s communist authorities.

TikTok is likely one of the world’s hottest social media apps, with greater than 1 billion energetic customers globally, and counts the United States as its largest market.

© Thomson Reuters 2022