US concerns over China heighten as Biden, Xi Jinping set to talk

Last week, the FCC Commissioner called on Apple and Google to drop the TikTok app from its app stores, calling the platform an “unacceptable national security risk” posed by China. In his latest podcast episode, Joe Rogan expressed concern and educated listeners about TikTok’s privacy policy. Rogan read to listeners what data TikTok is capable of accessing automatically.

According to its privacy policy, TikTok collects certain information about the device used to access the platform, such as a user’s IP address, mobile carrier, identifiers for advertising purposes, model of device, network type, device IDs, screen resolution and operating system, app and file names and types, keystroke patterns or rhythms, audio settings and connected audio devices. When users log in from multiple devices, TikTok can use profile information to track user activity across devices.

“I think they saw people are addicted to social media and they came out with the most addictive version of social media which is TikTok,” Rogan said.

Rogan’s concerns over China’s accessibility to TikTok users data come at the same time the Senate Committee on Homeland Security released a report detailing attempts by China to infiltrate and steal information from the Federal Reserve.

Tensions between China and the U.S. are already running high. After Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced a possible trip to Taiwan, China immediately threatened the U.S. with consequences.

President Biden is set to have a phone call with Xi Jinping tomorrow. It will be the first time in four months since the two have spoken, with a wide range of bilateral and international issues on the table.