TikTok, the popular social media platform, is once again under the microscope as Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn accuse the company of misleading Congress regarding the storage and sharing of user data. In a letter dated June 6th, the lawmakers demand answers to a series of questions related to TikTok’s data practices, highlighting concerns about the storage of sensitive information and the involvement of China-based servers. The allegations raise questions about user privacy, national security, and the company’s transparency.

The Senators have compiled a list of 14 questions that TikTok needs to answer by June 16th

Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn expressed their concern about TikTok’s repeated misleading or inaccurate responses regarding user safety and national security. They referenced a New York Times report claiming that user data, including driver’s licenses and child sexual abuse materials, was shared within TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, through an internal messaging platform called Lark. The report further states that the entirety of user data on Lark was accessible to ByteDance employees, including those based in China.

TikTok

Forbes also published an article accusing TikTok of storing the financial information of U.S. TikTok creators, including tax information and social security numbers, in China. The Senators point out that TikTok’s CEO and employees had previously testified that user data is stored in the United States and Singapore. However, the revelations from the Times report suggest otherwise, leading to concerns about the accuracy of previous statements made by TikTok representatives.

The Senators presented a list of 14 questions that they demanded TikTok to answer by June 16th. These questions cover a wide range of topics, such as the storage of user data on Chinese servers, access granted to China-based employees, clarification on previous testimonies, the involvement of TikTok in other ByteDance products, and measures taken to investigate data sharing with Chinese authorities.

The allegations against TikTok emphasize the importance of accountability in the handling of user data. Users entrust platforms with so much of their personal information these days, including debit/credit card numbers and most of all, passwords, and it is crucial for companies to be very transparent about their data practices. As the congressional inquiry unfolds, it remains to be seen how TikTok will respond to the Senators’ demands for clarification and whether additional measures will be taken to address concerns surrounding user privacy and national security. Stay tuned to Gizmochina as we cover future milestones in this story.

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