Google and Apple again printed Ban TikTok from app stores in the US. Democrat senator Michael Bennet, who called for the short video platform to be banned this time, was in a letter addressed to the main leaders of two big technologies this Thursday (2).
Citing national security concerns, the Senate Intelligence Committee member said he feared the Chinese government would use local laws to force the app’s owner, ByteDance, to provide US user data. According to Bennett, the legislation requires companies to cooperate with government intelligence.
The politician also claimed that the platform’s algorithm could be used to “support Chinese interests” by delivering content that would undermine the country’s democratic institutions. He also commented on the censorship of posts about how the Asian giant deals with Hong Kong and ethnic minorities.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple’s chairman of the board Tim Cook, cited in the document, did not comment on the request to ban the service in the US. It is worth remembering that the use of the Chinese application on official US government devices and networks is restricted.
ByteDance queries print
The spokesperson for the Chinese company, Brooke Oberwetter, commented on Bennet’s push to ban TikTok in the US, stating that the letter was “almost entirely” based on false news. Representative denied access to personal data and manipulation of content in the app.
ByteDance CEO Shou Zi Chew, who was called to testify before the US House Energy and Commerce Committee in March, is expected to clarify the app’s data security policies at that time. There is no evidence that the mentioned problems occur, but experts do not rule out this possibility.
Source: Tec Mundo
