DOJ Alleges TikTok’s Data Collection Poses National Security Risk

The Justice Department (DOJ) has raised alarms about TikTok, accusing the social media app of gathering sensitive user data on social issues such as gun control and abortion. 

The DOJ’s allegations, detailed in documents filed at a Washington appeals court, claim that TikTok and its parent company ByteDance used an internal system called Lark to facilitate communication between TikTok employees and ByteDance engineers in China. This system allegedly enabled ByteDance to collect and store user opinions on various social and religious matters on Chinese servers, accessible to their employees.

The DOJ expressed concerns that this data could be used by the Chinese government for “covert content manipulation.” The brief warned that ByteDance might direct TikTok to manipulate its algorithm to further China’s influence operations, undermine trust in U.S. democracy, and deepen social divisions. These concerns have spurred bipartisan discussions among U.S. lawmakers about potentially banning TikTok due to the national security threat it poses.

A TikTok spokesperson has pushed back against the idea of banning the app, arguing that such a move would violate the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech. Nonetheless, the DOJ’s allegations have heightened the debate over TikTok’s role and presence in the United States, underscoring the ongoing issues of data privacy and foreign influence. As lawmakers consider the potential implications of TikTok’s data practices, the app’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, making it a critical issue in the realm of national security and digital privacy.