BEIJING — China accused the USA on Thursday of spreading disinformation and suppressing TikTok following studies that the Biden administration was calling for its Chinese language homeowners to promote their stakes within the well-liked video-sharing app.
The U.S. has but to current proof that TikTok threatens its nationwide safety and was utilizing the excuse of knowledge safety to abuse its energy to suppress overseas firms, International Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin advised reporters at a every day briefing.
“The U.S. ought to cease spreading disinformation about knowledge safety, cease suppressing the related firm, and supply an open, truthful and non-discriminatory surroundings for overseas companies to speculate and function within the U.S.,” Wang mentioned.
TikTok was dismissive Wednesday of a report in The Wall Road Journal that mentioned the Committee on International Funding within the U.S., a part of the Treasury Division, was threatening a U.S. ban on the app except its homeowners, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., divested.
“If defending nationwide safety is the target, divestment doesn’t resolve the issue: A change in possession wouldn’t impose any new restrictions on knowledge flows or entry,” TikTok spokesperson Maureen Shanahan mentioned.
Shanahan mentioned TikTok was already answering considerations by means of “clear, U.S.-based safety of U.S. person knowledge and methods, with strong third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification.”
The Journal report cited nameless “individuals conversant in the matter.” The Treasury Division and the White Home’s Nationwide Safety Council declined to remark.
In late February, the White Home gave all federal companies 30 days to wipe TikTok off all authorities units. Some companies, together with the Departments of Protection, Homeland Safety and the State Division have already got restrictions in place. The White Home already doesn’t permit TikTok on its units.
Congress handed the “No TikTok on Authorities Units Act” in December as a part of a sweeping authorities funding package deal. The laws does permit for TikTok use in sure circumstances, together with for nationwide safety, legislation enforcement and analysis functions.
In the meantime, lawmakers in each the Home and Senate have been transferring ahead with laws that may give the Biden administration extra energy to clamp down on TikTok.
TikTok stays extraordinarily well-liked and is utilized by two-thirds of teenagers within the U.S. However there may be growing concern that Beijing might acquire management of American person knowledge that the app has obtained and push pro-Beijing narratives and propaganda on the app.
China has lengthy been involved in regards to the affect of abroad social media and communications apps, and bans a lot of the best-known ones, together with Fb, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube — and TikTok.