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Lawmakers ask US intelligence to assess if TikTok is a security threat – TechCrunch
Two lawmakers have asked the government’s most senior U.S. intelligence official to assess if video-sharing app TikTok could pose “national security risks” to the United States.
In a letter by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR), the lawmakers asked the acting director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire if the app maker could be compelled to turn Americans’ data over to the Chinese authorities.
TikTok has some 110 million downloads to date and has spiked in popularity for its ability to record short, snappy videos that are sharable across social media networks. But the lawmakers say because TikTok is owned by a Beijing-based company, it could be compelled by the Chinese government to turn over user data — such as location data, cookies, metadata and more — even if it’s stored on servers it owns in the United States.
Both Schumer and Cotton warn that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is “still required to adhere” to Chinese law.
“Security experts have voiced concerns that China’s vague patchwork of intelligence, national security, and cybersecurity laws compel Chinese companies to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party,” the letter, dated Wednesday, said. “Without an independent judiciary to review requests made by the Chinese government for data or other actions, there is no legal mechanism for Chinese companies to appeal if they disagree with a request.”
That same legal principle works both ways. U.S. companies have been shut out, or had their access limited, in some nation states — including China — over fears that they could be compelled to spy on behalf of the U.S. government.
See also: TikTok explains its ban on political advertising
Related Stories
India bans TikTok, WeChat and dozens more Chinese apps
India's government has banned TikTok and dozens more Chinese-made apps it says are a danger to the country. In a statement, it said the apps were "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order". In total, 59 different apps were banned - including popular messaging app WeChat.
It follows weeks of escalating tensions along the disputed border between the two countries. Both India and China deployed more troops to the Ladakh region in June, and minor clashes have left at least 20 Indian troops dead. Satellite images also appear to show that China has built new structures overlooking the Himalayan border region.
India's Ministry of Information Technology said it was banning the 59 Chinese apps after receiving "many complaints from various sources" about apps that were "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner".
Previously: Bytedance: The World's Most Valuable Startup
Lawmakers Ask US Intelligence to Assess If TikTok is a Security Threat
Related: Indian Government Orders ISPs to Block 857 Porn Websites
China is Ramping up its Media Abroad – and Not Just in Chinese
Indian Court Orders YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to Block "Defamatory" Video Worldwide
[20200803_012617 UTC UTC Update 2:]
tl;dr version: Trump threatened to ban TikTok. Then Microsoft said it was in talks to buy TikTok. Then Microsoft said the talks were in doubt after Trump's threats. Now, Microsoft is "continuing discussions."
Microsoft to continue discussions on TikTok purchase after talking to Donald Trump:
After reports US President Donald Trump is considering an order to force Beijing-based tech company ByteDance to divest ownership of popular social-video app TikTok, Microsoft has announced it will be "continuing discussion" on a potential purchase of TikTok after a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the President.
"Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President's concerns," said Microsoft, in a statement. "It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury.
[20200802_144217 UTC Update 1; added:]
Microsoft pauses talks on TikTok US deal - reports:
A possible sale of Chinese-owned TikTok's US operations to Microsoft is reportedly on hold after Donald Trump vowed to ban the video-sharing app.
A sale was thought close to agreement, but was put in doubt after the US president's warning on Friday.
The Wall Street Journal said Microsoft had now paused talks despite TikTok owner ByteDance making last ditch efforts to win White House support.
It comes amid criticism of Mr Trump's threat as an attack on free speech.
[...] Late on Friday, Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: "As far as TikTok is concerned we're banning them from the United States."
[Original story follows.--martyb]
TikTok: Trump says he will ban Chinese video app in the US
President Donald Trump has announced he is banning the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok in the US.
He told reporters he could sign an executive order as early as Saturday.
US security officials have expressed concern that the app, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, could be used to collect the personal data of Americans.
[...] Microsoft has reportedly been in talks to buy the app from ByteDance, but Mr Trump appeared to cast doubt that such a deal would be allowed to go through. If the deal went ahead reports say it would involve ByteDance shedding TikTok's US operations.
From The Verge:
President Trump has signed a new executive order which will block all transactions with Bytedance, TikTok's parent corporation, in an effort to "address the national emergency with respect to the information and communication technology supply chain."
The move comes after months of escalating tensions, which saw Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others at the White House warn that TikTok presented a national security threat because of its Chinese ownership. Microsoft is currently in talks to acquire portions of the app, aimed to be complete by September 15th.
A parallel order banned transactions with WeChat, a popular texting app in China that maintains a small user base in the US.
[...] The executive branch has the power to levy sanctions against individuals and corporations by placing them on the "entity list," as the US did against Huawei and ZTE last year. But such sanctions are typically put in place by the Commerce Department rather than the White House, and subject to a specific rule-making procedure that seems to have been short-circuited by the surprise executive order.
See also: Tencent stock plummets after Trump announces plan to ban WeChat in the US
Previously:
(2020-08-01) President Trump Threatens TikTok Ban, Microsoft Considers Buying TikTok's U.S. Operations[Updated 2]
(2020-07-07) Reddit and LinkedIn Stop Copying iPhone Clipboard Contents
(2020-06-30) India Bans TikTok, WeChat, and Other Chinese-Owned Apps
(2020-06-28) TikTok and 53 Other iOS Apps Still Snoop Your Sensitive Clipboard Data
(2019-12-27) Investigation Claims United Arab Emirates Uses The ToTok App To Spy
(2019-10-26) Lawmakers Ask US Intelligence to Assess If TikTok is a Security Threat
TikTok plans to sue Trump administration over US ban
TikTok plans to sue the Trump administration over its executive order banning transactions between U.S. companies and the popular video-sharing app as well as its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
"Even though we strongly disagree with the Administration's concerns, for nearly a year we have sought to engage in good faith to provide a constructive solution," a TikTok spokesperson told The Hill. "What we encountered instead was a lack of due process as the Administration paid no attention to facts and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses," the spokesperson continued. "To ensure that the rule of law is not discarded and that our company and users are treated fairly, we have no choice but to challenge the Executive Order through the judicial system," the spokesperson added.
Also at NYT and Business Insider.
Previously: Bytedance: The World's Most Valuable Startup
Lawmakers Ask US Intelligence to Assess If TikTok is a Security Threat
TikTok and 53 Other iOS Apps Still Snoop Your Sensitive Clipboard Data
India Bans TikTok, WeChat, and Other Chinese-Owned Apps
President Trump Threatens TikTok Ban, Microsoft Considers Buying TikTok's U.S. Operations[Updated 2]
TikTok: Trump Will Prohibit Transactions with Bytedance Beginning September 20
US will ban WeChat and TikTok downloads on Sunday
The Commerce Department plans to restrict access to TikTok and WeChat on Sunday as the Trump administration's executive orders against the two apps are set to take effect.
The Department said Friday that as of Sunday, any moves to distribute or maintain WeChat or TikTok on an app store will be prohibited. Apple and Google didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
While users who have already downloaded the apps may be able to continue using the software, the restrictions mean updated versions of the apps cannot be downloaded.
The restrictions targeting WeChat are more extensive. Beginning Sunday, it will be illegal to host or transfer internet traffic associated with WeChat, the Department said in a release. The same will be true for TikTok as of Nov. 12, it said. (The Trump administration is currently weighing a proposal involving ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent, and Oracle, designed to resolve the administration's national security concerns related to TikTok; the deadline for a deal is Nov. 12.)
(Score: 2) by legont on Sunday October 27 2019, @02:43AM (9 children)
Typically the common wisdom and excuse is that there are no US companies, but international corporations. They typically do have to comply with local laws though and the real issue is what to do when local laws and/or practices are incompatible.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday October 27 2019, @03:55AM (8 children)
The both ways thing is only tolerated because it's convenient for both corporations and governments for responsibility-shifting purposes. The only actual sane way to work with international Internet commerce and regulation is to have the corporations follow the laws of the nation they incorporate in and applicable tax laws of any nation their customers are in. And ignore every other law. There is no other solution. If, say, GDPR gets to be a thing then China gets to make whatever rules they like as well.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by legont on Sunday October 27 2019, @04:09AM
So, say Apple is an Ireland company, while most of so called Russian commodity companies are Cyprus.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by c0lo on Sunday October 27 2019, @05:55AM (1 child)
Oh, but there are. Many solution are possible.
One of them: no international/multinational companies unless the laws of different incorporation/operation countries are homogeneous (e.g. EU).
I.e Apple Ireland != Apple US, each of them have their own board and CEO and books and stockmarket quotations and obey the law of the country they operate in. Same for Google (sush... if you dare to utter "synergy", I'll let my ass laugh you out).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday October 27 2019, @02:36PM
I kind of thought that was implied in what I said. Incorporate in a country and you're bound by that nation's laws and only that nation's laws, excepting things like tariffs and such. One corporation incorporated in Ireland owns a corporation in the US, the one in Ireland has to obey Irish laws and the one in the US has to obey US laws. Mind you, if a corporation is wholly owned by another corporation, the child corp should be treated as if it were a sole proprietorship rather than a corporation for tax and liability purposes.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Touché) by janrinok on Sunday October 27 2019, @05:58AM (3 children)
So now you are supporting the idea that 'on a computer' makes things different? I most strongly disagree. Internet commerce should be treated no differently than any other kind of commerce.
A company must obey the laws of the country in which they are conducting business. And if you don't like that premise then take your business elsewhere. Trying to get around the law by incorporating in one place but conducting business elsewhere is still an attempt at avoiding the consequences of those laws. And if you adopt such laws for US companies be prepared for the consequences. For example Teva pharma - an Israeli company - can quickly undercut the prices charged by any of the US companies when trading inside the US. The EU could subsidise Airbus and the US would just have to suck it up. After all, your rules won't apply to European companies. And so on...
Of course, the US would just apply other measures to counter what you are now suggesting, which boils down to the biggest bully wins. Now that surely isn't an intelligent way to try to cohabit this planet.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday October 27 2019, @02:44PM (2 children)
I'm proposing the idea that a business operating from the UK (incorporation and all physical presence and property) should not have to follow, or even keep up with, French laws unless they decide they need to put servers in France, yes. If France dislikes that, they're free to block $corp's IP addresses at the border and seize anything shipped to their shores.
Yes, I know the consequences. And it's still the least FUBAR way of doing things for all concerned despite it's particular inherent drawbacks, because the inherent drawbacks to any other method are worse.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Sunday October 27 2019, @05:51PM (1 child)
That was probably a bad choice of countries - while Britain remains in the EU all member states have the same regulations.
And I don't think that what you are suggesting is a better way of doing things. If you want to do business in France you have to obey French law. If you want to go on holiday to Mexico, you have to obey Mexican law. If you are suspected of committing an offence in the UK, then you should answer the charges in the UK. What if I came to the USA but ignored your laws simply because I am not American - would you think that acceptable, or would I be expected to follow US law?
If you don't like our laws, take your business elsewhere. We'll manage OK. I'm sure some people will moan about it, but life will still go on.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday October 27 2019, @10:16PM
The difference being, a website operating on UK servers, incorporated in the UK, with no physical presence outside the UK, and doing its banking in the UK can never legitimately be said to be doing business in France. There's zero legitimate reasons to treat it any different than someone in Lyon ordering something on the phone or by mail from a London company.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 27 2019, @02:38PM
Your mental laziness is boring.
Newspeak for "I don't want to think about this any more, and I'm going to flip out if you keep talking about possible solutions."
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Sunday October 27 2019, @05:21AM
Tik-Tok is very dangerous. Especially when he has a lunch pail. Just ask the Wheelers.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 27 2019, @06:58PM (1 child)
Perhaps not Instagram, but this doesn't seem organic. Companies in the US not only also can be, but are actively "compelled" to turn over user data to the government. The quotes there since they seem to be pretty happy with things like PRISM. Microsoft acts like a good boy in PRISM, Microsoft gets a $10 billion government contract. Nah, must just be a coincidence. What does national security even mean here? TikTok is for doinky viral crap. Perhaps China's going to fund an worldwide revolution led by cat-video-makers? You may try to fight back, but it will be helpless - you'll be overwhelmed into submission by their cuteness!
As an aside on that contract, these numbers are just getting so stupid. That $10 billion is for a decade long 'JEDI' cloud compute contract. $10 billion is enough to buy 10 million $1000 computers. Factor in an economy of scale and you could develop a computational platform providing tens of millions of $1000 computers, at cost. And that would be for permanent computational resources. Instead they're paying $10 billion to... rent... computing power? The 'cloud' never made any sense, and it continues to make less sense by the day. Yes, please make my entire business dependent on a third party who will now know I am dependent upon them, add a major point of failure for all of my confidential resources, and also let me pay a whole hell of a lot more than it'd cost me to do it on my own. Just brilliant!
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 27 2019, @11:01PM
TikTok is a security threat to teen pussies.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/inside-the-world-of-online-child-sex-abusers-20191019-p53277.html [smh.com.au]
https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Parents-warned-online-predators-often-use-popular-teen-app-Tik-Tok-to-lure-children-506752631.html [wdbj7.com]