TikTok is facing a potential ban in the US for allegedly spying on Americans, and now the country’s neighbor has warned its citizens not to utilize the popular app. The head of Canada’s intelligence agency said Canadians – including teenagers – should not utilize the app because China is obtaining their personal information.
“My response as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is that the Chinese government has a very clear strategy… to be able to obtain… personal information from anyone anywhere in the world,” CSIS director David Vigneault said in an interview with CBC.
According to Vigneault, the app’s design makes it “very clear” that data collected from its users “is accessible to the Chinese government.”
“As an individual, I would say that I would absolutely not recommend anyone to have TikTok. If for some reason you find yourself targeted [People’s Republic of China]they will have a lot of information about you,” he added.
“China is developing artificial intelligence using user data”
Vigneault also stated that China uses user data to develop artificial intelligence and wants to protect the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
“They are using gigantic data analytics, they have amazing computer farms processing the data, they are developing artificial intelligence… based on that data,” Vigneault said, as reported in the publication.
“The ultimate goal is always to protect the interests of the Chinese Communist Party. From this point of view, in many ways it represents a threat to our way of life,” he added.
What TikTok has to say
Danielle Morgan, a spokeswoman for TikTok in Canada, called CSIS’s claims “unsubstantiated.”
“TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, and we wouldn’t do so if asked,” she was quoted as saying.
“Singling out one platform and making baseless accusations does not make Canadians safer. We will continue to engage with Canadian officials and are cheerful to meet with CSIS to discuss how we protect the privacy and security of Canadians,” she added.
“My response as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is that the Chinese government has a very clear strategy… to be able to obtain… personal information from anyone anywhere in the world,” CSIS director David Vigneault said in an interview with CBC.
According to Vigneault, the app’s design makes it “very clear” that data collected from its users “is accessible to the Chinese government.”
“As an individual, I would say that I would absolutely not recommend anyone to have TikTok. If for some reason you find yourself targeted [People’s Republic of China]they will have a lot of information about you,” he added.
“China is developing artificial intelligence using user data”
Vigneault also stated that China uses user data to develop artificial intelligence and wants to protect the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
“They are using gigantic data analytics, they have amazing computer farms processing the data, they are developing artificial intelligence… based on that data,” Vigneault said, as reported in the publication.
“The ultimate goal is always to protect the interests of the Chinese Communist Party. From this point of view, in many ways it represents a threat to our way of life,” he added.
What TikTok has to say
Danielle Morgan, a spokeswoman for TikTok in Canada, called CSIS’s claims “unsubstantiated.”
“TikTok has never shared Canadian user data with the Chinese government, and we wouldn’t do so if asked,” she was quoted as saying.
“Singling out one platform and making baseless accusations does not make Canadians safer. We will continue to engage with Canadian officials and are cheerful to meet with CSIS to discuss how we protect the privacy and security of Canadians,” she added.
