Some leaked TikTok documents show how the app handles its China-linkage issue. Ever since the pandemic began, ByteDance's popular social media platform became very popular. 

(Photo : Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
A young man holding a smartphone casts a shadow as he walks past an advertisement for social media company TikTok on September 21, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. 

This is because of its unusual mechanics. Unlike Facebook, Twitter, and other online sites, TikTok encourages users to publish creative content on the platform. 

However, after TikTok became widely used across the globe, cybersecurity researchers shared their concerns about TikTok's association with China. 

Leaked TikTok Documents: Downplaying China

According to Gizmodo's latest report, two leaked documents of TikTok revealed how the application disassociates itself from the Chinese government. 

(Photo : Photo by SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
This illustration photo taken on June 29, 2020 shows a person using the video-sharing app TikTok on a smartphone in New Delhi. - TikTok on June 30 denied sharing information on Indian users with the Chinese government, after New Delhi banned the wildly popular app citing national security and privacy concerns. 

Also Read: Viral Culture: Most Popular TikTok Songs that You Should Add on Your Playlist [July 2022]

These files are titled "TikTok Master Messaging" and "TikTok Key Messages." The "TikTok Master Messaging" docs contain 53 pages that outline how TikTok's PR presents the app to the public. 

In this file, the main goal of TikTok is to downplay ByteDance and China association. The document also states that the PR team should emphasize TikTok as a brand or platform instead of an app owned by China. 

On the other hand, the "TikTok Key Messages" contain the soundbites (pre-recorded interviews) that ByteDance's public relations employees should use to tackle the "China/ByteDance Ownership" issue. 

Some of these soundbites are the following: 

• We have not and will not share user data with the Chinese government and would not do so if asked. 
• There's a lot of misinformation about TikTok right now. The reality is that the TikTok app isn't even available in China.
• We have a number of measures in place to significantly reduce access to user data, and we continue to build those out. 

Aside from these, the file also provides proof points that TikTok PRs should rely on: 

• TikTok doesn't operate in China. 
• TikTok is not a Chinese app firm but a global company. 
• TikTok has a lot of independence, thanks to it being highly localized in operations and experiences.  

Why Don't the U.S. Officials Trust TikTok

There are various reasons why U.S. officials don't trust TikTok. Previously, Mashable SE Asia reported that the app's employees in China could access U.S.-based user data. 

TikTok confirmed this detail, saying that staff can access user details from the United States via approval protocols.

Because of this, various authorities and cybersecurity experts still question ByteDance's popular social media platform. 

On the other hand, the TikTok Audio Caption and Translations were previously rolled out. 

Meanwhile, the viral TikTok Pink Sauce Chef defended her popular condiment. 

Related Article: A TikToker Uses 'Long-Range Remote Controlled Car' To Buy Groceries Without Leaving Home!

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Written by: Griffin Davis