TikTok
is facing a potential ban in the US for alleged
spying
on Americans, and now, the country’s neighbour has warned its citizens to not use the popular app. The head of Canada's intelligence agency has said that Canadians — including teenagers — should not use the app because China is acquiring their personal information.
“My answer as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is that there is a very clear strategy on the part of the government of China ...
to be able to acquire ... personal information from anyone around the world,” said CSIS director David Vigneault in an interview with CBC.
As per Vigneault, it's “very clear” from the app's design that data gleaned from its users “is available to the government of China.”
“As an individual, I would say that I would absolutely not recommend someone have TikTok. If you are, for whatever reason, getting in the crosshairs of the [People's Republic of China], they will have a lot of information about you,” he added.
‘China developing AI using user data’
Vigneault also claimed that China is using user data to develop AI and they want to protect the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
“They're using big data analytics, they have amazing computer farms crunching the data, they are developing artificial intelligence ... based on using this data,” Vigneault said, as per the publication.
“The ultimate goal is always to protect the interests of the Chinese Communist Party. And so from that point of view, in many ways, this is a threat to the way we live,” he added.
What TikTok has to say
Danielle Morgan, a spokesperson for TikTok in Canada, called CSIS’s claims “unsupported by evidence.”
“TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, nor would we if asked,” she was quoted as saying.
“Singling out one platform and making unsupported accusations does not make Canadians safer. We will continue to engage with Canadian officials and would welcome the opportunity to meet with CSIS to discuss how we protect the privacy and security of Canadians,” she added.
English (US) ·