Blumenthal Urges Potential TikTok Buyers to Commit to Basic Standards for User Privacy, Security & Freedom of Expression

[WASHINGTON, DC] – As Chinese technology giant ByteDance pursues a possible sale of its popular video platform, TikTok, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote potential buyers today urging them to commit to protect users’ cyber security, privacy, and freedom of expression. In July, Blumenthal and Josh Hawley (R-MO) wrote the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking an investigation into TikTok’s business relationships, data handling practices, and operational connections to China.

“It’s time for TikTok to make a fresh start – an opportunity to promise tens of millions of TikTok fans that their personal data is being held safe and secure. Whoever acquires TikTok will not start with a blank slate; it must put to rest concerns about backdoors, data misuse, and censorship. As TikTok users worry about future of their beloved app, I write to urge Microsoft to turn a new page, and commit to rigorous review and reform to protect its users’ safety and security in any potential acquisition,” Blumenthal wrote Microsoft. The senator sent similar letters to Oracle and Walmart, which are also reported to be interested in acquiring TikTok.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Microsoft is available here.

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