In recent years, there have been growing concerns that the popular video app TikTok may be spying on journalists who use the platform. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, which has raised fears that the app could be used to monitor and collect data on users, including journalists and news organizations.
Evidence of Potential Spying
While concrete proof of TikTok spying on journalists has yet to surface, there are several reasons why experts believe the app poses a risk:
- TikTok collects large amounts of user data, including browsing history, location, and device information. This extensive data collection could be used to monitor journalists.
- As a Chinese-owned company, ByteDance is subject to Chinese law, which requires companies to share data with the government upon request.
- TikTok has been accused of censoring content deemed politically sensitive by the Chinese government, including videos related to protests in Hong Kong.
- The app reportedly has backdoor access that allows ByteDance employees to access detailed user data.
- In 2022, Buzzfeed News reported that TikTok staff in China had accessed US user data on multiple occasions.
While TikTok claims that data on US users is stored outside China, experts argue that the broad powers of China’s national security laws mean user data could still be accessed.
Concerns Around Journalists and News Organizations on TikTok
In particular, there are growing worries that TikTok could be used to monitor journalists and news organizations who use the app to reach wider audiences.
Reasons journalists and news organizations may be targets include:
- Reporting on politically sensitive topics that the Chinese government aims to suppress.
- Coverage that is critical of China’s ruling party and policies.
- Interviewing dissidents or reporting on human rights issues in China.
- Investigating TikTok itself and its connections to the Chinese government.
- Examining issues like censorship on TikTok that the company may not want scrutinized.
By monitoring journalists’ activity on TikTok, the Chinese government could potentially identify sources, scoops in progress, or monitor messaging with sources. There are also fears that Beijing could censor or limit the reach of news videos posted to TikTok that it deems unfavorable.
Examples of Alleged TikTok Interference
While concrete evidence remains limited, some incidents have raised suspicions of TikTok spying or interfering with journalists:
- In 2021, TikTok employees in China were reported to have repeatedly accessed data on two journalists who had been reporting on the app and ByteDance.
- That same year, The Guardian said TikTok temporarily blocked access to their account after they posted content about China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
- Forbes reported their TikTok account was mysteriously blocked after posting a video about Beijing’s use of influencers on the app.
- ProPublica found the reach of critical stories they posted to TikTok rapidly declined compared to more neutral content.
However, concrete evidence linking these incidents to directives from Beijing or intentional bias against journalists remains lacking. TikTok claimed the above examples were resolved and due to technical glitches.
Concerns Over Source Communications
A major area of concern is whether TikTok could be used to monitor journalists’ communications with sources, potentially identifying whistleblowers and jeopardizing source confidentiality.
Specific risks include:
- Messages between journalists and sources being intercepted.
- Recordings of interviews being accessed.
- Monitoring of comments/messaging with sources.
- Users who speak with journalists being flagged internally.
- Metadata revealing reporting activities.
For Chinese citizens who speak with foreign journalists, being identified publicly or internally as talking to news media could have serious consequences given Beijing’s strict information controls.
Steps for Journalists to Take
Given the potential risks, experts recommend journalists take precautions when using TikTok:
- Avoid communicating with confidential sources or sharing unreleased reporting via TikTok messaging/comments.
- Do not record interviews or share notes within the app.
- Consider using a separate work/personal account not linked to your real identity.
- Delete metadata from videos before posting.
- Use a VPN when accessing TikTok to mask your IP address and location.
- Avoid logging into other accounts like Google or Twitter from within the TikTok app.
- Be careful of cyber threats like fake TikTok login pages.
Some experts recommend journalists avoid TikTok entirely when handling sensitive information or communicating with at-risk sources.
TikTok’s Response to Spying Allegations
TikTok has consistently denied allegations that it spies on journalists or anyone else, stating:
- User data stored outside China is not shared with the Chinese government.
- Content moderation is localized and independent from Beijing’s influence.
- The app does not censor or limit distribution based on political ideology.
- Any incidents of employees accessing user data improperly were one-off breaches dealt with internally.
However, the company has limited insight into what its parent company ByteDance may be doing within China under local laws.
TikTok claims that as it expands operations outside China, ByteDance is transitioning to be a global company not under Beijing’s control.
Ongoing Debate and Monitoring
Concerns around TikTok and potential spying remain active areas of debate:
- US lawmakers have repeatedly raised questions over TikTok’s China ties and data practices, including at Congressional hearings.
- Some experts argue TikTok offers China unparalleled access to track and influence foreign audiences at scale.
- Others maintain concrete evidence of systemic targeting of journalists remains lacking.
- Additional US government scrutiny, audits, and potential legislation have been proposed to regulate TikTok.
- Some reporters argue TikTok provides an important platform to reach audiences globally.
As TikTok continues to grow, journalists, governments, and researchers will likely closely monitor the platform for any evidence of surveillance, censorship, or undue Chinese influence.
