TikTok has responded to Forbes' claims that the app was tracking certain citizens from the United States. The allegation was specifically pointed toward TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, according to The Verge.
TikTok, in turn, responded by saying that they left out the vital part of their statement, which says that TikTok does not collect precise GPS location information from US users. However, the article from Forbes does claim that ByteDance has considered getting location data from users in the US.
TikTok's Defense
TikTok Comms responded via Twitter by pointing out that Forbes lacked both rigor and journalistic integrity in the article about the app. The thread continued to TikTok, saying that Forbes chose to leave out the statement, which disproves the feasibility of their core allegations.
The app then expressed that it did not collect precise GPS location information from users in the US, which means that what the article suggested about them monitoring US users was not possible.
Tiktok continued to defend itself by saying they have never been used to target any members of the US, whether it's the government, activists, public figures, or journalists. It also states that they provide the same content experience to all its users.
US lawmakers have been concerned about the Chinese government's access concerning US user data, which can be done through the app. Shou Zi Chew, TikTok's CEO, wrote a letter asking the Republican critics how they aim to address the issue and separate American user data from ByteDance.
TikTok says that its Internal Audit team adheres to policies and processes and obtains information to internally investigate employees who violate the company's code of conduct. The company personnel that would do what Forbes had accused would immediately be dismissed.
Forbes' Article
In the article, Forbes directly accused a China-based team at Bytedance. The article states that the TikTok app will be used to monitor the personal location of specific US citizens, which is based on material that the business magazine themselves reviewed.
They named the people in the team that is behind the monitoring allegations, like Song Ye, who was based in Beijing, and leads the Internal audit and Risk Control Department of ByteDance. Forbes also pointed out that he reports to Rubo Liang, ByteDance's co-founder and CEO.
Maureen Shanahan, TikTok's spokesperson, said that they only collect "approximate" location information based on the user's IP address. This was needed so since it determines which contents and ads are relevant. It also detects and prevents fraud and inauthentic behavior.
She also stated that the company uses encryption tools and security monitoring to keep data secure. US personnel oversees the access approval, and US data is granted only when needed.
Forbes claimed that the materials reviewed showed that ByteDance's Internal Audit team in not using this for content and ads but to surveil individuals in America. The business magazine refused to disclose further details about the surveillance referenced in the materials to protect sources.
