The FCC warns the U.S. military about its TikTok usage as the agency claims it poses security risks. This detail was shared by Brendan Carr, a Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission, on Wednesday, July 13.
(Photo : Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Army soldiers salute during a memorial service for Sgt. Robert Tucker at a military base October 18, 2005 in Dujail, Iraq. Tucker, 20, from Cookeville, Tennessee, was killed by insurgents when a roadside bomb blew up his armored vehicle.
As of writing, various defense branches of the United States have already banned using the Chinese social media app from their work devices.
But, Carr said that troops' personal use of TikTok is what alarmed him. He claimed that using the app for personal reasons has become more pervasive among military personnel.
FCC Warns About US Military TikTok's Usage, But Why?
According to Bloomberg's latest report, the FCC regulator warned the U.S. military that if they continue using TikTok, they may be risking the national security of the nation.
(Photo : Photo Illustration by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
In this photo illustration, the download page for the TikTok app is displayed on an Apple iPhone on August 7, 2020 in Washington, DC. On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans any transactions between the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens.
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"We're very concerned about that data flow back to Beijing," said Carr.
He added that TikTok, an app that anyone can easily use, is still being installed by military employees.
The FCC official further explained that their location data and other sensitive information are being sent to the Chinese app's system.
Because of this, Brendan believes that U.S. troops' movements and other essential military activities might be leaked, which can definitely compromise their militarized missions.
Ever since TikTok boomed in the United States, government officials have questioned whether the Chinese authoritarian regime is using the app to acquire residents' private data.
Because of this, the app's owner, ByteDance Ltd., released a letter on June 30 to defend its social media platform. The company explained that the Chinese Communist Party doesn't have any access to their user data.
Only China-based employees can check user information since they are working to enhance the app's features to provide a better social media experience.
US Military's Usual TikTok Content
If you will visit TikTok and search for "U.S. Military videos," you will see that there are really some soldiers who are posting their videos.
Because their content allows people to understand the things they do during their service hours, their videos are usually trending on TikTok's FYP.
Most of their content is about unusual packed military food, such as burgers and tacos. Meanwhile, other footages show them having fun.
But, some videos contain their actual military activities, such as weapon assembling, marching, artillery cleaning, etc.
If you want to see the exact videos of U.S. military personnel, you can click this link.
@boodlehunt Trying out US Military food #mre #foodtok #foryou #fyp ♬ original sound - Boodle Hunt
Previously, experts claimed that the new TikTok LIVE restrictions are being tested.
Some dance organizations are also concerned about the increasing number of injuries due to TikTok viral dance challenges. Professionals advised the public, especially teens, to have proper dance training for guidance.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
