FBI director warns that TikTok could be exploited by China to collect user data for espionage

The FBI director warned that the Chinese-owned social media app could be used for espionage.

During an event at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Wray told an audience that he was concerned about the ability of China to control the recommendations on TikTok.

Byte Dance is a Chinese internet technology company.

One of the most popular social media platforms is the TikTik app. There are one billion users in 154 countries. It has 80 million users in the US.

The recommendations allow China to manipulate content and use it for influence operations. He said that China could collect users' data for espionage.

"All of these things are in the hands of a government that doesn't share our values and that has a mission that's very much at odds with what's in the best interests of the United States." That should worry us.

Donald Trump gave TikTok a deadline to find a US buyer. If ByteDance did not sell TikTok in 45 days, he would ban it from operating in the US.

The Trump administration ban was revoked by President Joe Biden. Gina Raimondo was asked to investigate apps connected to foreign adversaries.

A proposal to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US is being considered by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US. The proposal calls for TikTok to route US user traffic through a Texas-based technology company.

In June, TikTok said it was starting to route American users' data via US-based server owned byOracle. The data from the US was being accessed from China.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the US was referred to by Wray. There is a lot of discussion within the interagency about whether or not there is something that could adequately address those concerns.

The FBI's input is being considered as part of our ongoing negotiations with the U.S. Government according to a TikTok spokesman. We are confident that we are on a path to fully satisfy all reasonable U.S national security concerns and have already made significant strides towards implementing those solutions.