RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) An FCC commissioner wants the TikTok app taken out of App stores and hes giving the two big tech giants of Apple and Google just days to remove it.<\/p>\n
TikTok videos flood the internet as more than 100 million Americans useit, but FCCCommissioner BrendanCarrsays thats got to end.He called it an unacceptable security risk. <\/p>\n
Carrhas sent letters to Apple and Google, which he posted on Twitter, saying he wants the TikTok app removed from app stores by July 8.<\/p>\n
Carrsays TikTok is not just another video app. Thats the sheeps clothing.<\/p>\n
He claims TikTok harvests swaths of sensitive data that are being accessed in Beijing<\/p>\n
In Carrs tweet, he cites a recent Buzz Feed Reportas the basis for his claims.<\/p>\n
Data harvesting isnt new. Its been going on for years.<\/p>\n
Apple, Microsoft, Google, they all have lots of data points onus,said Cybersecurity Expert Craig Petronella. Theresthousands of data points oneveryone.All your movements, with all the sensors on your phone its all being cataloged.<\/p>\n
ButCarrfears the data harvesting by TikToks parent company,ByteDance,is being done under the direction of the Chinese government.<\/p>\n
He claims ByteDance isrequired by Chinese law to comply with that countrys surveillance demands.<\/p>\n
For its partByteDancecalls the BuzzFeed allegations misleading saying:<\/p>\n
We employ access controls like encryption and security monitoring to secure user data.<\/p>\n
But what happens if TikTok is no longer available? Security experts say that could lead to biggerproblems.<\/p>\n
If its abandoned, no patches areavailable, saidPetronella. There will be holes discovered and exploitedpublicized over the internet and theres a risk of compromise.<\/p>\n
Back in 2020, President Trump issued this executive order banning TikTok and its companion app We Chat.<\/p>\n
Those executive orders were later rescinded by PresidentBiden, butthat wasnt the end of it.<\/p>\n
Last year President Biden told the Commerce Department tolook intoTikTok.<\/p>\n
The Department says thatreviewis still underway.<\/p>\n
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Original post:<\/p>\n
TikTok is a security risk, but will it be removed from app stores? - CBS17.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) An FCC commissioner wants the TikTok app taken out of App stores and hes giving the two big tech giants of Apple and Google just days to remove it. Continue reading