Chinese employees are repeatedly and inappropriately accessing non-public US user data, according to recently released statements from TikTok employees. There were previous allegations that Tiktok user data was protected and controlled by a US-based security team.
Despite this, the social media giant has been suspected several times of improperly accessing user data and possibly leaking information directly to the Chinese government. Now, a TikTok executive has written a letter to Congress explaining how the company will protect information from ByteDance and host it in an Oracle data center in the US. So what does the letter say?
‘The accusations and implications are wrong’
The letter, written by TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, was sent to nine US senators to explain how the company will keep all information stored in US-based Oracle data centers. The data will be periodically audited by a US-based security team.
In the letter, Chew stated that TikTok is one of the most scrutinized platforms in terms of security and aims to remove any doubt about the security of US user data. The follow-up letter from TikTok was sent in response to questions from Marsha Blackburn, John Thune, and several other US senators who questioned the company and its data practices.
BuzzFeed did a report on ByteDance’s data security practices and flaws, which is why the letter was sent to senators. In his letter from TikTok, BuzzFeed states that the accusations and implications in the article are false and not supported by facts, and that no wrong has been done on behalf of the company.
On Friday, Senator Blackburn said Chew’s letter proved fears about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party on the company were justified. He added that TikTok must testify again before Congress. What are you thinking? Please do not forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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