Australia scrutinises Chinese-owned TikTok over foreign interference, data privacy

The popular social media platform, owned by China’s Bytedance, recently set up an office in Australia, and said it is not politically aligned

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government was ‘having a good look at TikTok’ as the US analyses its ‘national security risks’

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Popular video-sharing app TikTok is under scrutiny in Australia over its Chinese ownership. Photo: DPA

Published: 11:35pm, 20 Jul 2020Updated: 1:39am, 21 Jul 2020

Australia is scrutinising the popular Chinese-owned social media TikTok platform for any risks it may pose to users from around potential foreign interference and data privacy issues, government sources said.

Owned by Bytedance, TikTok opened an office in Australia in recent weeks.

Offices of both the Home Affairs and Attorney-General are discussing TikTok’s operations, the sources confirmed.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government was “having a good look” at TikTok, which has also fallen under US scrutiny for “national security risks”.

The ByteDance logo is seen at the entrance to a ByteDance office in Beijing. Photo: AFP

“If we consider there is a need to take further action than we are taking now, then I can tell you we won’t be shy about it,” Morrison told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Friday.

Separately, Labor Senator Jenny McAllister, the chairwoman of a parliamentary inquiry into foreign interference through social media, has identified TikTok as needing further scrutiny, noting 1.6 million young Australians used the app.