Australian PM says no evidence of TikTok abusing user data
- There is nothing at this point that would suggest to us that security interests have been compromised, Scott Morrison says
- Building an Indo-Pacific alliance with like-minded nations will be a ‘critical priority’ for Australia, he told the Aspen Security Forum
“We have had a good look at this, and there is no evidence for us to suggest … that there is any misuse of any people’s data,” he told the Aspen Security Forum meeting in Aspen, Colorado.
“There are plenty of things that are on TikTok that are embarrassing enough in public, but it’s that sort of social media device,” he said via videoconference, chuckling.
The difference with TikTok, he said, is “that information can be accessed at a sovereign state level,” a reference to Chinese companies’ legal obligation to share data with state intelligence services if they want it.
“But I think people should understand – and there’s a sort of buyer-beware process – there is nothing at this point that would suggest to us that security interests have been compromised.”