FBI's Wray raises security concerns about TikTok

SHOTLIST:RESTRICTION SUMMARY: MUST CREDIT FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICYFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY - MUST CREDIT FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICYAnn Arbor, Michigan - 2 December 20221. FBI Director Chris Wray is met with applause after being introduced during an appearance at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy2. Attendees listen as Wray speaksANNOTATION: FBI Director Chris Wray, during an appearance at the University of Michigan on Friday, raised national security concerns about TikTok.FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY - MUST CREDIT FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICYAnn Arbor, Michigan - 2 December 20223. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Wray, FBI director:"Its parent company is controlled by the Chinese government, and it gives them the potential to leverage the app in ways that I think should concern us." 4. Various of attendees listening to WrayANNOTATION: Wray said China has the ability to control the popular video-sharing app's recommendation algorithm. ANNOTATION: And that, Wray said, allows the Chinese government to manipulate content and potentially use it for influence operations. FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY - MUST CREDIT FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICYAnn Arbor, Michigan - 2 December 2022++PARTIALLY COVERED++5. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Wray, FBI director:"And so, all of these things are in the hands of a government that doesn't share our values and that has a mission that's very much at odds with what's in the best interest of the United States."6. Various of attendees ANNOTATION: TikTok has said it protects all data from American users and that Chinese government officials have no access to it.STORYLINE:FBI Director Chris Wray is raising national security concerns about TikTok, warning Friday that control of the popular video-sharing app is in the hands of a Chinese government "that doesn't share our values."Wray said the FBI was concerned that China had the ability to control the app's recommendation algorithm. He also asserted that China could use the app to collect data on its users that could be used for traditional espionage operations.Wray spoke at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. The concerns are similar to ones he raised during congressional appearances last month when the issue came up. And they come amid ongoing dialogue in Washington about the app. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance. A TikTok spokesperson did not immediately return an email seeking comment on Friday.But at a Senate hearing in September, TikTok Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas responded to questions from members of both parties by saying that the company protects all data from American users and that Chinese government officials have no access to it.Concerned about China's influence over TikTok, the Trump administration in 2020 threatened to ban the app within the U.S. and pressured ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S. company. U.S. officials and the company are now in talks over a possible agreement that would resolve American security concerns, a process that Wray said was taking place across U.S. government agencies.===========================================================Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.