One shocking exchange revealed the reason America’s top intelligence officers believe TikTok poses a threat to US security.
Senator Marco Rubio was vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and asked Christopher Wray, Director of FBI, some simple questions.
Rubio: “Could they possibly use TikTok to manage data on millions of users?”
Director of FBI: “Yes.”
Rubio: “Could it be used to control software on millions more devices if they had the chance?”
Director of FBI: “Yes.”
Rubio: “Could the they use it to drive narratives such as to divide Americans against one another?” Let’s take, for example, China wanting to invade Taiwan. To make sure Americans see videos that argue why Taiwan belongs to China, why the US shouldn’t intervene?
Director of FBI: “Yes.”
This was one of many moments in which the Chinese-owned, globally popular social media platform came up during the annual hearing on global threats. It was also the subject of testimony by all the top intelligence agencies.
This TikTok threat is a headline that will resonate with millions TikTok users across America, and beyond.
There is more to the political implications of the US government’s decision to ban the app from America.
How will young voters respond to being told that they can’t use an app they seem to be addicted to? That was the intel chiefs’ response. They simply told them that China had stolen their personal data.
The main theme of this hearing, aside from the TikTok headline was China.
Continue reading:
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TikTok is banned from EU Commission phones due to cyberattack fears
This Capitol Hill spectacle offers the rare opportunity for America’s top intelligence officers to speak directly with you. China was mentioned again and again.
There was also talk about Russia, Iran, terror threats from domestic extremists, and the strain on American society by gun violence and addiction to opioid drugs. (There have been more than 100 mass shootings in America this year, and over 100,000 Americans are affected by opioid abuse each year. That’s it.
The central theme of the two-hour televised hearings with senators was, however, the threat posed in Beijing by the government.
Sometimes it seems like future conflicts with China are almost inevitable.
The Chinese Threat is a constant theme on cable news channels.
Spy missiles have been shot down and are pushing the limits of geopolitical tension.
Politicians are riling from Chinese ownership of American land. It is a race to be the best Artificial Intelligence (AI), platform. This has real existential consequences.
Some people say to forget about the situation between Ukraine, and the West. If that isn’t a sideshow it could be a precursor to what could happen with China.
The China-US relationship will be the most important issue of our times and our children’s lives.
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