Concerns Rise as Chinese-Developed TikTok Code Sparks New Worries

In a recent report by the Australian Financial Review, software developers in China are working on TikTok code. This involvement has prompted new concerns that the government might compel workers to suppress and disclose content secretly. 

This means the Chinese government could hamper the famous global video social app with over 1 billion users worldwide. 

Growing Alarm Over Chinese Connection With TikTok Code

According to The Australian Financial Review, it has seen a sample of TikTok code connected to the software development. 

The report noted that the development involved engineers from the parent company in China ByteDance but hinted that the complicated nature of TikTok’s code makes it difficult to ascertain the details involved. However, the sample tends to control live stream broadcasts and moderation.

From what AFR gathered, the code sample is similar to the TikTok app version on Android devices. It discloses a minimum of twelve usernames with email addresses linked to ByteDance, the Chinese firm that owns TikTok.

Notably, the company is also the owner of other social media platforms like Douyin, which focuses mainly on the China populace.

In line with intelligence and security legislation, many people are skeptical about protecting users’ data on the TikTok app. This is due to the controversial nature of China’s National Intelligence Law of 2017, especially Article 7 of the law sections. 

The law demands that all citizens and organizations assist, support and cooperate with the state intelligence work. Also, they must conceal such disclosures and cooperation from the public.

Fear of Possible Breach in TikTok’s Users’ Data Security

Before now, politicians and other users across several Western democratic countries believed that TikTok was connected with the Chinese government. 

They fear the popular video-sharing app could release users’ data to the Chinese government if it mandates the developers. 

However, TikTok has been struggling to convince users that its operations are independent of ByteDance, the software company known for its strong connection with the Chinese Community Party.

With the growing fears about TikTok’s data security, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in the Albanese government released a directive to ban TikTok on government-issued devices in April. The directive was issued under the Protective Security Policy Framework in the country.

On his part, the spokesman of Shadow Home Affairs and Cyber Security, James Paterson, reacted during a section with The Financial Times. 

Paterson stated that the code is strong evidence that China developed and managed the TikTok app. This supports the increasing fear that the Chinese government could interfere with the app. Paterson stated the implication of TikTok’s connection with a Chinese software company. 

In his statement, “That matters because it means engineers working on it in China can access user data and are captured by the intelligence and security laws of the Chinese Communist Party”.

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