Christopher Wray worries that the platform could make it possible to spread the narrative that the US does not have to interfere in Taiwan, among other issues.
The Chinese government can use the short video network TikTok to control personal data and spread its narratives among American society, he pointed this Wednesday the director of the FBI, Cristopher Wray, when speaking before the Intelligence Committee of the US Senate.
“Yes,” Wray responded to questions from committee vice president Marco Rubio about whether Beijing can control the data of millions of users and the software on millions of devices through TikTok.
In addition, Rubio asked Wray if the Chinese authorities can spread narratives aimed at dividing US society or disseminate videos through the network in which it is explained that Taiwan is a part of Chinese territory, so Washington does not have to interfere. “Yes, and I would emphasize, on this last point in particular, that we’re not sure we’re going to see a lot of outward signs of what’s going on if this was happening,” the director replied.
Rubio also accused TikTok of carrying out a psychological campaign against minors in the US, while in China the network spreads positive values. To this, Wray reacted by saying that Washington “has to look for and assess the national security concerns” that, according to the authorities, TikTok represents for the US.
- On Tuesday, the White House welcomed a bill that would allow the US to ban TikTok on its territory.
- Likewise, last December the US Senate approved unanimously a law that prohibits the use of TikTok on all government electronic devices in the country
- The previous week, the authorities had announced that public bodies had 30 days to remove this social network from federal devices and systems.
- For its part, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the US of abusing power and taking exaggerated measures, after the White House ordered federal employees to remove TikTok from official mobile devices.
