The US National Security Agency has warned of TikTok’s data collection and influence

Director of the United States National Security Agency, Paul Nakasoneexpressed concern Tuesday during an appearance before Congress for data collection and the potential of Chinese video app TikTok to facilitate large-scale influence operations.

To the question of the Republican senator Tommy Tuberville Regarding his concerns about TikTok’s influence on American children, Nakasone told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: “TikTok worries me for several reasons.”

The Agency’s director said his concerns include “the data they have…Secondly, there’s the algorithm and control over who owns the algorithm.”

The official ended his remarks by saying that the Chinese platform TikTok could enable large-scale influence operations.

Nakasone said his concern was not only that TikTok could proactively influence users, but also his ability to “switch off the message”, and highlighted its large number of users. The app is used by over 100 million Americans.

The NSA, under the Department of Defense, is the agency responsible for intelligence and security and cryptographic communications in the United States.

A representative for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For three years, TikTok has been trying to assure the United States that the personal data of American citizens is not accessible. and that its content cannot be manipulated by the Chinese Communist Party or anyone under Beijing’s influence.

TikTok, a unit of Byte Dance in China, has come under increasing criticism over fears that user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese regime, undermining Western security interests.

Shou Zi ChewCEO of TikTok, will appear before the US Congress on March 23.

For its part, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has joined other community institutions in banning TikTok from all Euro-Agency corporate devices, in addition to recommending its removal from any personal device used for professional purposes.

Sources from EUIPO, which is based in the eastern Spanish city of Alicante, said it was a decision by the executive director, the Belgian Christian Archambeauin line with recent announcements by Parliament and the European Commission.

The decision is based on an analysis carried out by the Digital Transformation department of the Euroagency, with the support of the Data Protection Office, and aims to protect the EUIPO against cybersecurity and data protection threats linked to the application in China.

The EUIPO recalled that it has strict internal cybersecurity policies for the use of mobile devices in terms of work-related communications, so this measure is part of the objective of protecting its institutional environment and its staff. cyberattacks, as well as risks of appropriation and misuse of personal or sensitive data.

With a thousand Euro-officials, the Office based in Alicante is one of the largest Community Euro-agencies and is dedicated to the registration of trade marks, models and designs in the market that make up the 27 countries of the EU, as well as the Europe Observatory against piracy.

In addition to the European institutions cited, the White House has also vetoed the use of TikTok on the professional devices of its employees, all with security concerns as its main argument.

(With information from Reuters and EFE)

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