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| Cyber |
| US Army bans Chinese-owned application Tik Tok over security concerns |
| 2020-01-01 |
| [Jpost] The United States Army has banned the video sharing social networking app TikTok on government owned phones, categorizing the service a security threat - following the United States Navy's example in December, according to CNN. Many sitting US politicians have scrutinized TikTok and are looking to to determine if the Chinese-owned app can be used to collect the personal data of American citizens. They say that TikTok could be forced "to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party." "There was a Cyber Awareness Message sent out on 16 December, identifying TikTok as having potential security risks associated with its use," Army spokesperson Lt. Col Robin L. Ochoa told CNN. "The message directs appropriate action for employees to take in order to safeguard their personal information. The guidance is to be wary of applications you download, monitor your phones for unusual and unsolicited texts etc., and delete them immediately and uninstall TikTok to circumvent any exposure of personal information." Two weeks prior to this announcement, the US Navy banned the social media app TikTok from government-issued mobile devices, saying the popular short video app represented a "cybersecurity threat." "Our data centers are located entirely outside of China, and none of our data is subject to Chinese law," the company said at the time, according to CNN. "Further, we have a dedicated technical team focused on adhering to robust cybersecurity policies, and data privacy and security practices." Even though TikTok executives refused to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the company stated that they "remain committed to working productively with Congress as it looks at how to secure the data of American users, protect their privacy, promote free expression, ensure competition and choice among internet platforms, and preserve US national security interests." A bulletin issued by the Navy in December, showed up on a Facebook page serving military members, saying users of government issued mobile devices who had TikTok and did not remove the app would be blocked from the Navy Marine Corps Intranet. The Navy would not describe in detail what dangers the app presents, but Pentagon front man Lieutenant Colonel Uriah Orland said in a statement the order was part of an effort to "address existing and emerging threats." TikTok did not return a request for comment at the time. |
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