FBI Director Warns of National Security Risk Posed by TikTok and China’s Technology Theft

FBI Director Christopher Wray has issued a dire warning about the popular social media app TikTok, claiming that it poses a serious national security risk to the United States. Wray stated that China is using TikTok to steal technological and artificial intelligence expertise from the US, putting American data and technology at risk.

The US Congress has approved legislation to ban TikTok, giving its parent company ByteDance Ltd. nine months to sell the app. If a sale is not completed within that time frame, TikTok will be banned in the US. Wray emphasized the importance of taking action against TikTok, as the app’s parent company is closely tied to the Chinese government, raising concerns about data privacy and security.

In an interview with NBC News, Wray explained, “TikTok for us represents a national security concern… It has to do with the data, the recommendation algorithm, and the software. The data, we’re talking about the ability to control or collect data on millions and millions of users, and to use it for all sorts of influence operations.”

The potential ban on TikTok could have far-reaching implications for millions of users in the US. If the app is banned, it would disappear from app stores and users would no longer receive updates or security patches, rendering the app unusable over time.

TikTok is already banned in several countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan, and restricted in many European countries. The US ban on TikTok could take at least a year to go into effect, with potential court challenges prolonging the process.

As the debate over TikTok’s national security risks continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what impact it will have on the millions of users who rely on the app for entertainment and social networking.