admin
Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, has repeatedly warned that TikTok poses a severe national security threat to the U.S. due to its ties to China’s Communist Party. His central argument is that , calling the app “Chinese spyware” that functions like “spy balloons” on users’ devices.
– : TikTok collects vast amounts of personal data from its 170 million U.S. users, which China could leverage for espionage or targeting individuals in influence campaigns.
– : The app’s AI-driven algorithm, controlled by Beijing, promotes content aligning with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) narratives—such as pro-Hamas videos during the Israel-Gaza war or divisive messaging during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Chang argues this tool allows China to “propagate its narratives” and “undermine U.S. institutions”.
– : Chang alleges China used TikTok to fuel aggression in recent college campus protests by curating content that incited violence and anti-Israel sentiment. He cites PLA-linked efforts to send “tailor-made” protest guides to specific users as evidence of coordinated interference.
Chang has criticized U.S. policymakers for failing to ban TikTok outright, calling President Biden’s response inadequate and urging immediate action to shut down the app. He dismisses divestiture or oversight deals—like Oracle’s partnership with TikTok—as ineffective, since Beijing retains control over the algorithm. Instead, he advocates for a full ban, emphasizing that China’s use of TikTok constitutes an “act of war” against American democracy.
These warnings align with broader bipartisan national security concerns, including fears that China could exploit TikTok to sway U.S. elections or deepen societal divisions. While TikTok denies these allegations, Chang’s arguments reflect escalating tensions in the U.S.-China tech rivalry, where digital platforms have become geopolitical battlegrounds.
