U.S. senator warns China of espionage through TikTok

[New Sancai Compilation First Release] The intelligence community gave a confidential briefing to the U.S. Senate this week on China’s potential for espionage through TikTok, with one lawmaker saying China’s capabilities were “shocking.”

According to media reports, officials from the FBI, Justice Department and the Director of National Intelligence detailed in a March 20 briefing how easily China can access and track Americans' data through the popular app.

The Senate is considering what to do with a bill passed by the House last week that would force TikTok's Chinese parent company, BitDance, to sell it to a U.S. company or face a ban.

One senator said, "TikTok is able to monitor the microphone on a user's device, track keystrokes and determine what the user is doing on other apps."

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz said the briefing would help "educate some members on the latest threat posed by China through TikTok."

"Their tracking and espionage capabilities are astounding," said Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt.

At the same time, the Washington Post reported on March 21 that lawmakers are facing increasing threats against TikTok legislation, prompting the U.S. Capitol Police to launch an investigation.

According to the Washington Post, threats range from violent threats against senators' offices to threats of self-harm by users if Congress bans the app.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted a voicemail to his office on social media, threatening to "cut him to pieces" if he voted to ban the bill.

"TikTok's disinformation campaign is forcing people to call members of Congress, and callers who make threats against elected officials like this could be committing a federal crime," Tillis posted on

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)