As the Labor federal government circles banning TikTok on government devices over its China links, millions of Australians are downloading and using other Chinese-owned applications that could be subject to similar concerns.
Governments around the world have been vexed by how to respond to TikTok, a Chinese-owned social video platform with more than a billion global users.
Last week, United States politicians grilled TikTok’s CEO as they publicly mulled over potentially banning the app. Concerns over the data collection practices were raised, as well as fears that the app could be used to promote propaganda.
Critics argue that a Chinese law that requires any citizen to assist with state intelligence work from competing social media apps means that TikTok presents a greater risk than social media competitors such as Facebook or Twitter. A submission to an Australian government committee this month argued that corporate structure TikTok’s parent company TikTok closer to a “ ‘hybrid’ state-private entity”.
Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister Clare O’Neil has been handed a security review of TikTok and other social media apps by her department. There’s widespread speculation the government will soon ban Tiktok on government-owned devices but as yet the idea of banning the app from Australia has not been mooted.
While this debate rages, less attention has been given to other popular Chinese-linked applications used by millions of Australians.
App monitoring service SensorTower lists four Chinese-owned apps in the top 20 most popular applications in Australia on both Apple and Google app stores this week:
- TikTok;
- Video-editing app CapCut, which is also owned by ByteDance;
- Chinese-founded fast fashion shopping app SHEIN;
- Chinese-owned online shopping marketplace Temu.
These apps collect personal information such as name, email address, phone number and financial information but fall short of some of TikTok’s public data collection practices such as contact book access. And although popular, their use pales in comparison to the extremely popular TikTok.
Still, risks around data collection that led to the departments of Defence and Home Affairs banning the applications from their devices also apply to other Chinese-owned apps such as these.
A spokesperson for O’Neil confirmed she had received the security review and was considering its recommendations: “We are working to undo the years of inaction under the previous government, who failed to act or even provide advice about these issues as they developed.”
Why should we be more concerned about social media app owned by a Chinese company than social media apps owned by companies from the USA. It’s understandable that the USA is fearful of anything from China, they are the most paranoid and self-centred country in the world, but why do we have to blindly follow their lead yet again. The USA authorities have demonstrated again and again how much they don’t respect the rights of other countries or their own citizens so why should we trust China any less than them.
Because it’s sensible,
It has become apparent that Australia, like the U.S. doesn’t get irony. On the other hand, we do hypocrisy perfectly…5 eyes anyone (remembering U.S. citizens have at least some protections, unlike everywhere else in the world). Google, Meta, Facebook, Amazon…
Interesting isn’t it? From the point of view of the private citizen, would you rather have your data inaccessible to the Australian and US governments but accessible to the Chinese or vice versa? Which constitutes more of a hazard to you?
From the point of view of commercial exploitation of peoples’ personal data, is there a difference between Chinese and US firms? Doesn’t look like the governments have much interest in that question at all. As an individual, a software based and regulated in Europe is probably one’s best bet of poor choices.
My thinking runs similarly: I really don’t care how much the Chinese government knows about me. I have no plans to ever visit China or any of its dependencies. They, unlike US corporations, aren’t going to pass any information to the Australian government so I don’t have anything to fear there.
If the Australian government really had any concern for its (non-billionaire) citizens, rather than talking about banning Tiktok they would be seriously considering giving Facebook and its stable-mates the flick. Failing that, penalise (with large daily fines) Google and Apple until they allow us to uninstall these apps from our phones.
Agree, to an extent. Perhaps one of the biggest threats to democracy (besides the PLA/CCP) is that bastion of free speech, Twitter! I wouldn’t trust Elon to sell me a hamburger, let alone look after my data and ensure that raving lunatics don’t have a loud platform from which to spout bullshit…
So, you don’t care if the Peoples Republic of China has information about you, it isn’t China any more, China left our world in 1949.
Tik Tok is a drop in the ocean of data harvesting. Despite never using facebook, twitter or amazon their cookies are always lurking in my Mac. Oh yes, and Tik Tok which I also never use. Despite clearing out cookies usually once a week the above-mentioned always reappear pronto. They are the cockroaches of the internet ie: indestructible.
The horse has bolted & the stable door is wide open, folks. Don’t kid yourselves that banning Tik Tok will make us more secure. That’s a fairytale.
“The CIA Cloud, brought to you by Amazon”. I think there’s more to worry about this. https://www.wired.com/2013/03/the-cia-cloud-brought-to-you-by-amazon/
Makes you want to buy your next book from a Dymocks store! Not to mention Amazon’s extensive AI facial recognition systems (much better than the Chinese) across the US.
Text – S.686 – 118th Congress (2023-2024): RESTRICT Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Thanks for that, a prime example of the National Security State in action, magnificently casting aside pieties about freedom of individuals and property rights to assert power to and for the executive and its paranoias.
Better than the Chinese versions, eh? I dunno – if that was the case, crime in the USA would be a lot less than it is. China has a much safer climate – unless you say/think negative things about the government, that is.
You’re probably right, mind you for a surveillance state in which one in three adults have been arrested and charged with a crime, this does not prevent gun massacres with legally bought firearms.