TikTok threat to businesses, expert warns

The privacy issues behind social media site TikTok present a threat to New Zealand people, businesses, and potentially the democratic process, a cybersecurity expert has warned.

Adam Boileau, a security expert from CyberCX, said TikTok’s potential link to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) made it a concern for data experts.

‘‘At least Facebook is beholden to its host government in the USA and can be regulated and controlled. With TikTok we have no recourse against it because it is based in China. It can show users whatever it wants to and our Government can do nothing.’’

It is estimated TikTok has 1.4 million users in New Zealand. When users download the app they give it access to troves of information, including phone and location data, contacts and messages, internet browser search history and keystroke patterns.

This data is stored by TikTok owner ByteDance. While ByteDance is a privately owned company, data stored in mainland China and held by Chinese companies can legally be accessed by the Chinese Government.

US Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr last week called on Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores.

Carr called the app an ‘‘unacceptable national security risk’’.

He said the app gave the CCP ‘‘unfettered access’’ to ‘‘sensitive US user data’’.

Boileau said he wanted the New Zealand Government take a similar stance against the app.

‘‘When we were rolling out our 5G mobile networks, the Government was very against using Chinese equipment particularly Huawei, because of concerns the Chinese Government could access our communications.

‘‘TikTok gives the Chinese Government similar access directly into people’s brains. Because it serves content that can guide and inflame political beliefs, it would be a great platform to influence a future election,’’ he said.

He pointed to TikTok being used to silence opposition to the Chinese Government’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims, as evidence the app was anything but apolitical.

But marketing strategist Rachel Klaver said the TikTok algorithm was too beneficial to ignore even if it came with serious privacy concerns.

‘‘There are definitely two sides to it. Yes if the algorithm is so fantastic there probably is some insidious thing in there that isn’t great, but it also has a tremendous capacity to get your brand in front of customers,’’ Klaver said.

‘‘With TikTok we have no recourse against it because it is based in China.’’ Adam Boileau CyberCX security expert