China says U.S. spreading disinformation, suppressing TikTok

China accused the U.S. on Thursday of spreading disinformation and suppressing TikTok following reviews that the Biden administration was calling for its Chinese language house owners to promote their stakes within the well-liked video-sharing app.

The U.S. has but to current proof that TikTok threatens its nationwide safety and was utilizing the excuse of knowledge safety to abuse its energy to suppress international corporations, Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin advised reporters at a every day briefing.

“The U.S. ought to cease spreading disinformation about knowledge safety, cease suppressing the related firm and supply an open, honest and non-discriminatory setting for international companies to take a position and function within the U.S.,” Wang mentioned.

TikTok was dismissive Wednesday of a report within the Wall Road Journal that mentioned the Committee on International Funding within the U.S., a part of the Treasury Division, was threatening a U.S. ban on the app except its house owners, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., divested.

“If defending nationwide safety is the target, divestment doesn’t remedy the issue: A change in possession wouldn’t impose any new restrictions on knowledge flows or entry,” TikTok spokesperson Maureen Shanahan mentioned.

Shanahan mentioned TikTok was already answering considerations by “clear, U.S.-based safety of U.S. person knowledge and techniques, with strong third-party monitoring, vetting and verification.”

The Journal report cited nameless “individuals conversant in the matter.” The Treasury Division and the White Home’s Nationwide Safety Council declined to remark.

In late February, the White Home gave all federal companies 30 days to wipe TikTok off all authorities gadgets. Some companies, together with the departments of Protection, Homeland Safety and State have already got restrictions in place. The White Home already doesn’t enable TikTok on its gadgets.

Congress handed the “No TikTok on Authorities Units Act” in December as a part of a sweeping authorities funding package deal. The laws does enable for TikTok use in sure instances, together with for nationwide safety, legislation enforcement and analysis functions.

In the meantime, lawmakers in each the Home and Senate have been shifting ahead with laws that may give the Biden administration extra energy to clamp down on TikTok.

TikTok stays extraordinarily well-liked and is utilized by two-thirds of teenagers within the U.S. However there’s growing concern that Beijing might acquire management of American person knowledge that the app has obtained and push pro-Beijing narratives and propaganda on the app.

China itself has lengthy been involved concerning the affect of abroad social media and communications apps, and bans many of the best-known ones, together with Fb, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.