Concerns over Chinese access to personal data gathered through TikTok

Introduction

Olivia Plant is one of Australia's most popular TikTok users. The American-born Queenslander spends hours on the app each day, sharing lip-syncing videos with her 1.4 million followers. "You can make any videos you want; you can post comedy videos, relatable videos; like anything, and it might do well; it might not. You never really know what takes off," she shares. Her enthusiasm mirrors that of half a billion users worldwide, many of whom are teenagers, drawing attention to the app's explosive growth outpacing Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube in downloads over the past year.

TikTok's rise is notable for another reason—it's the first Chinese-owned social media app to gain significant traction in the Western world. "TikTok is something that's completely new to users in countries like Australia, and that’s because it comes from China. Because that is an illiberal country, we have to think about it in a radically different way," states Fergus Ryan, a cyber analyst examining the app's potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

While most users have considered privacy risks concerning U.S.-based apps like Facebook and Twitter, Ryan argues that the implications of a Chinese app must be viewed differently. If the Chinese government seeks data from a Chinese-owned company, they can access it without restriction. TikTok collects an extensive amount of personal user information—much like other social media platforms—including access to a phone's camera, microphone, contacts, and location using GPS. This data can provide a detailed insight into individuals' lives.

Andrew Hastie, chair of Australia’s Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, has raised eyebrows on this issue. "You might have someone who uses this app, who works in a sensitive area in the Australian government; that would be very vital information for the Chinese Communist Party to gather." He has been vocal about the need to protect individuals’ data, especially as TikTok primarily caters to teenagers—potential future leaders in diverse sectors.

Kerry Hobday lets her 14-year-old daughter, Ellen, use TikTok, but remains concerned about who views Ellen's videos rather than about who owns the app or its data use. After learning that TikTok is a Chinese company, she expressed newfound worries.

In the United States, the government has launched a national security investigation into TikTok. Concerns remain about the CCP knowing children's locations and personal data, which could be aggregated for artificial intelligence models. This has led to the Australian Defence Force barring TikTok from all work devices, with some political figures suggesting it should also be restricted on personal devices due to potential espionage risks.

Despite these concerns, not all Australian politicians are worried. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews actively uses TikTok and his office downplays data security anxieties, indicating that this is a federal government matter. However, data issues remain pressing as controversies arise over TikTok's alleged censorship regarding sensitive topics like Tiananmen Square, Taiwan, and Tibet. The company denies claims of being influenced by the Chinese government and asserts that user data is stored outside China, in Singapore and the U.S. Nevertheless, Ryan views this claim with skepticism given TikTok’s operational structure, suggesting that Beijing engineers likely have access to user data for enhancement purposes.

As TikTok prepares to open its first Australian office, a federal inquiry into its operations will occur later this year. Policymakers are urged to consider how to handle apps developed in illiberal countries that target users in liberal democracies.

Keyword

TikTok
Chinese Communist Party
Data Privacy
Cyber Security
User Information
Censorship
Espionage
Social Media

FAQ

1. What are the primary concerns regarding TikTok?
Concerns primarily revolve around data privacy and the potential for the Chinese government to access user information collected by TikTok.

2. Why is TikTok considered different from American social media apps?
TikTok is owned by a Chinese company, which raises unique issues regarding data access and government surveillance that are not typically present in U.S.-based platforms.

3. What kind of data does TikTok collect?
Like many social media apps, TikTok collects data such as your location, camera and microphone access, and contact lists.

4. Is TikTok banned in any government sectors?
Yes, the Australian Defence Force has banned TikTok from all work devices due to security concerns.

5. What has been the response of the Australian government to TikTok?
There is an upcoming federal inquiry into TikTok, reflecting growing scrutiny of its impact on national security and personal data privacy.