If the Government thinks TikTok is too dangerous to have on their phones, what about the rest of us? Could China be using the hugely popular app to steal our secrets too?
Here, Chris Stokel-Walker, author of TikTok Boom: China’s Dynamite App and the Superpower Race for Social Media, explains what’s behind the TikTok ban and whether we should be concerned.
Q. What are the main security concerns about TikTok?
A. Various China-sceptics worry TikTok is a Trojan horse for the Chinese Communist party. They claim the app is a deep state plot harvesting our data and information about our habits and interests. The problem is, it’s theoretical. Oliver Dowden himself admitted it was a ‘precautionary’ move, while TikTok themselves say they have never been asked by the Chinese government to hand over user data, and would decline to do so if asked.
Independent cybersecurity experts have pored through the app’s source code and haven’t found issues with it.
Q. Why has the government waited until now when TikTok has been around for several years?
A. One potential reason is that TikTok was recently found to be tracking a handful of journalists using the app, something the company behind it says was a mistake by rogue employees, who were subsequently fired. But that decision set back TikTok in its relations with journalists and governments.
But we also have to look at the wider politics and geopolitics to find the real reason behind acting now. Like in the US, Rishi Sunak has to appeal to the right wing of his party, many of whom are strident anti-China hawks. He needs to be seen to be tough on security, and TikTok is the target.
Q. Are other countries concerned?
A. The US, Canada and the European Commission have all banned the app on work phones for government officials, with TikTok saying that it’s an unnecessary measure because there is no evidence of issues with the app. China, for its part, has said that the moves are driven by anti-China sentiment.
Q. Is there any evidence? Have any cyberattacks been traced back to TikTok?
A. While some cybersecurity analysts claim that TikTok is less secure than others, most independent analysts suggest there are no more risks to TikTok than any other social media platform.
No evidence has been uncovered of data transfers to the Chinese government. Earlier this year researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States found political attacks on TikTok are ‘groundless’.
Q. Is it possible TikTok could face a general ban in Britain?
A. This is one of the major concerns: that a ban on government devices is a slippery slope towards a total ban. The United States has followed up a government device ban with a broader threat this week to ban the app unless its Chinese investors sell their stake in the company. The fear is that comes next.
Q. I use TikTok on my work phone, which has my email on it - is there a chance someone could read my work emails?
A. There’s no evidence that TikTok would do this, based on multiple independent cybersecurity analyses. I also have lots of contacts within TikTok, and have been looking for a smoking gun like this to report on. I haven’t been able to.
Q. I upload photos and videos to TikTok - how might they be using my image and what could I do about it?
A. TikTok uses computer vision algorithms to identify what’s happening in their videos, which helps it moderate inappropriate content such as self-harm and violence reaching users – alongside human moderation. But that’s normal for social media platforms.
Q. Is it possible TikTok can access other apps on my phone like my bank account?
A. There’s no indication it can do this.
Q. My child is on TikTok all the time - how could China be a threat to them?
A. Those most suspicious of TikTok worry that China is somehow indoctrinating young users with pro-China propaganda. In fact state-sponsored propaganda drives happen on all social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – as well as TikTok.
Q. What are the other dangers for children on TikTok?
More concerning is the addictive nature of social media, a problem not just for TikTok, but for all platforms we use. It’s worth making use of TikTok’s parental controls, which are based in the app, to monitor your child’s usage of the app and what they’re seeing. That includes limiting who they can speak to, to prevent them communicating with people you don’t want them to.
Q. Is TikTok any more dangerous than platforms like Facebook and Instagram in the way they collect and use your personal data? If so, why?
A. What’s been really interesting about the last few weeks and months is that we have highlighted a real problem: the overreach of data collection by social media platforms. But we’ve misdiagnosed the cause. It’s not TikTok. This happens with every app. TikTok is no different.
Q. What measures could I take to protect myself or my kids?
A. It’s worth talking to your children about the broader risks of using social media, and controlling what kind of information they share on all apps, not just TikTok. Do an audit of all your apps and the security settings on them, making sure they’re set at the highest level for your children.
