The United States Congress has growing suspicion on foreign-made apps. Specifically, Rep. Stephen Lynch, the House National Security Subcommittee Chairman, has sent letters Google and Apple letters, asking if they require their app developers to divulge potential overseas ties before the software appears in their respective stores. Relatively, the congressman is apprehensive about claims that apps such as Grindr, FaceApp, and TikTok may be providing sensitive information to the Russian and Chinese governments.
As indicated in the article posted on gadgetsnow.com, concern over China's acquisition of sensitive information about U.S. citizens through the social media apps is among the several "sore areas in relations between China and U.S., even as U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with the China fans" doubt between two of the world's largest economies.
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Lynch's Speculation
Rep. Lynch's speculated that the said countries could utilize the information to blackmail and recruit the employees of the American government or acquire, "undue foreign influence" on U.S. policy. He envisioned a scenario, as well, where hostile nations could utilize data to profile daily U.S. citizens for the sake of the future military and diplomatic battles. Both Google and Apple have not commented on the issue so far.
Meanwhile, there is no definite proof that firms like these have indeed sent sensitive data to the so-called not-so-friendly government agencies. ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, for instance, has maintained that its operations in the U.S. are apart from those in China. This hasn't satisfied the critics, though, as they are concerned about the influence of the said country, such as the temporary pulling of video of TikTok, highlighting the mistreatment of China of Uighur Muslims. And, despite the congressman's speculation, Google and Apple won't essentially be obliged to disclose foreign ties for mobile apps. However, they will unquestionably be pressured to explain their respective functions in the distribution of the said apps.
Shedding Light on Allegations
Recent reports from the media have shed light on suspicions that several foreign countries, as well as the developers, may indeed be providing sensitive information on American citizens via their respective mobile apps to their host governments, and thus creating substantial national security risks. This was the main message Lynch conveyed in the similar letters he sent Apple executive Tim Cook and Google chief executive Sundar Pichai.
In connection with the said letter, it mentioned that the U.S. laws are permitting mobile applications to gather massive amounts of their users' personal information. But, since there is a growing concern about TikTok's use of its users' personal information, ByteDance has strengthened its initiatives in separating the app from much of its operations in China. Incidentally, a senior Democratic committee aide stated a warning from the FBI that apps created by adversaries like Russia were probable counterintelligence hazards. Consequently, according to the aide, it is worthy of asking whether China and Russia might be manipulating the famous apps to gain an advantage in national security.
