US officials: TikTok poses potential threat to national security

John F. Plumb and Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, high-ranking US officials, warn of TikTok’s potential threat to the United States during a House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on cyber, information technologies and innovations.

John F. Plumb, assistant secretary of defence for space policy and principal cyber advisor to the secretary of defence, stated that TikTok is a ‘potential threat vector’ to the United States. Plumb explained that many Americans using TikTok create an opportunity for China to direct misinformation and collect data from the platform. Plumb also highlighted that China had used its cyber capabilities to steal US institutions’ sensitive information and intellectual property. The US faces persistent cyber threats from other countries, such as Russia, North Korea, Iran, and transnational criminal organisations. Plumb concluded that the Department of Defense had taken defensive and offensive cyberspace actions to deter aggression and ensure the nation’s security.

Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone stated that TikTok provides China with a platform for information operations and surveillance, which is a concern because China has already said they could access the data on the app at any time. Nakasone also discussed the need for policymakers to establish a policy that balances information sharing with protection against adversaries’ ability to conduct surveillance and information operations against the United States.