(MENAFN) The head of the cybersecurity unit of the United States National Security Agency (NSA), Rob Joyce, has recently expressed his concerns about TikTok, a popular video-sharing app owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance. During a conference in California, Joyce referred to TikTok as China's "Trojan horse," claiming that the app is being used by Beijing to collect data on American citizens.
Joyce has urged Washington to begin monitoring ByteDance to prevent future security incidents. He questioned the decision to bring the Trojan horse inside the fortress, referring to the potential consequences of allowing TikTok to operate in the United States. He highlighted the fact that China could manipulate the data collected through the app to include divisive material and remove information that paints China in a negative light, which they do not want to be exposed to the American people.
The concerns raised by Joyce are not new, as lawmakers and cybersecurity experts have been expressing their worries about TikTok for months. The app has been under scrutiny for its alleged connections to the Chinese government and the potential misuse of user data. In fact, TikTok CEO Shou Chew recently faced US lawmakers in a United States House Committee hearing amid growing calls to ban the app.
ByteDance's access to the personal information of TikTok's 150 million monthly users in the United States has been a major cause for concern. The company has repeatedly denied any involvement with the Chinese government, but the concerns surrounding the privacy and security of user data cannot be ignored. It is important for policymakers to address these concerns and ensure that the privacy and security of American citizens are protected in the digital age.
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