Top Points:
TikTok as a Surveillance Tool: Gordon Chang emphasized that TikTok collects vast amounts of user data, which can be accessed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under China's National Intelligence Law. This poses a significant national security risk to the United States.
Manipulation and Propaganda: TikTok's algorithm promotes divisive content and suppresses narratives critical of the CCP while amplifying anti-American propaganda. This manipulation weakens American societal cohesion and aligns with Beijing's interests.
Call for Action Against TikTok: Chang urged the U.S. to take decisive measures, such as banning TikTok or forcing its divestiture from ByteDance, to prevent the CCP from using it as a tool to undermine American security and values.
Full Report:
On a recent appearance on Newsmax, China expert and author Gordon Chang sounded the alarm about the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, calling it a "tool" in China's growing efforts to undermine the United States. Chang highlighted the app's role in collecting massive amounts of data, spreading propaganda, and influencing American society in ways that benefit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Chang explained that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is required under Chinese law to cooperate with the CCP, including sharing user data if requested. While TikTok has claimed that its U.S. operations are independent, Chang dismissed these assurances as "disingenuous."
Beyond data collection, Chang pointed to TikTok's ability to manipulate content as a significant threat. He described how the app's algorithm amplifies divisive content and suppresses information that might counter Beijing's interests.
"China uses that algorithm to amplify it's propaganda narratives, and in 2020, we learned from Radio Free Asia reporting China used that algorithm to foment violence on American streets. That, by the way, is a federal crime. That, by the way, is an act of war," said Chang.
Chang also noted TikTok's censorship practices, which align with the Chinese government's goals.
Chang urged the U.S. government to take decisive action against TikTok, including considering a nationwide ban or forcing a complete divestiture from ByteDance.
Chang's warning comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China on multiple fronts, including trade, technology, and military competition. His comments echo those of other experts who have long called attention to the CCP's use of technology to exert influence globally.
References
Chang, Gordon. Newsmax Interview, January 2025.
National Intelligence Law of the People's Republic of China.
Reports on TikTok's data collection and censorship practices from cybersecurity experts and industry analysts.
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