U.S. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has requested that Apple and Google remove the TikTok app from their stores, citing it as a national security threat, joining India and others with this same concern*.
Carr states "TikTok functions as a sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data". He claims it collects :
Search and browsing histories.
Keystroke patterns.
Biometric identifiers, including faceprints and voiceprints.
Location data.
Draft messages.
Metadata
The text, images, and videos stored on a device’s clipboard.
And more..."
Carr notes that the widely popular application is said to have a "pattern of conduct and misrepresentations regarding the unfettered access that persons in Beijing have to sensitive U.S. data...puts it out of compliance,”
It is further noted that the "US government and national security agencies are either urging or mandating the removal of the TikTok app from devices; and some businesses have already banned its use on company devices." Clearly industrial espionage is also a major threat to all nations, from many others.
Users beware!
"FCC commissioner wants Apple, Google to remove TikTok from App Stores"
* https://www.computerworld.com/articl...pp-stores.html