Blumenthal & Hawley Seek DOJ Investigation Into Zoom & TikTok
“Based on numerous reports, we are extremely concerned that Zoom and TikTok have disclosed private information about Americans to the PRC and engaged in censorship on behalf of the Chinese government.”
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) wrote the Department of Justice (DOJ) today seeking an investigation into “reported violations of Americans’ civil liberties by Zoom and TikTok and the national security implications of both companies’ relationships with the People’s Republic of China.”
Both Zoom and TikTok have tried to conceal their ties to China, where “tech firms are notoriously bound to draconian intelligence laws, media regulations, and extrajudicial pressure that compels them to censor and spy for China’s state security services.” Americans’ use of these platforms has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic even following reports of potential threats to the privacy of their data and their freedom of expression. Compounding these concerns, both Zoom and TikTok have refused to answer even basic questions from lawmakers regarding their business practices, including who has access to users’ personal data and when they comply with information requests from China or other governments.
The full letter to DOJ is available here.
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