WASHINGTON, DC —Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is raising concerns about U.S. Army plans to use TikTok for recruitment.
In a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, Schumer said using TikTok and other China-based social media platforms may pose national security risks.
"While I recognize that the Army must adapt its recruiting techniques in order to attract young Americans to serve, I urge you to assess the potential national security risks posed by China-owned technology companies before choosing to utilize certain platforms," Schumer wrote.
He asked McCarthy if the Army has consulted with the intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security.
"National security experts have raised concerns about TikTok’s collection and handling of user data, including user content and communications, IP addresses, location-related data, metadata, and other sensitive personal information, particularly when viewed in light of laws that compel Chinese companies to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party," Schumer wrote.
Schumer said national security experts have raised serious concerns about TikTok's collection and handling of user data.
This comes two weeks after Schumer and Senator Tom Cotton wrote a public letter to Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire calling for an investigation of Chinese-owned social media app TikTok.
The senators say in the letter, “with over 110 million downloads in the US alone, TikTok is a potential counterintelligence threat we cannot ignore".
TikTok is owned by Chinese company Bytedance Inc., and concern for possible foreign influence campaigns are top of mind as the U.S. is a little more than a year away from a presidential election.
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