Department of Justice alleges TikTok gathered information on American user views on topics such as abortion and gun control

The Justice Department has accused TikTok of engaging in the collection of mass data on users based on their views on controversial social issues like gun control, abortion, and religion. The government alleges that TikTok and its parent company ByteDance used an internal system known as Lark for employees to communicate with engineers in China, leading to sensitive U.S. user data being stored on Chinese servers accessible to ByteDance employees. The tool also allowed the gathering of information on user content including views on sensitive topics like abortion and religion.

These recent court documents mark the government’s defense in a significant legal battle regarding the future of the popular social media platform, which has over 170 million American users. In response to bipartisan concerns, President Joe Biden signed a law that may lead to a ban on TikTok if it does not sever ties with ByteDance due to fears of Chinese influence via user data manipulation.

The Justice Department cautioned about potential covert content manipulation by Chinese authorities through TikTok, citing concerns that the algorithm could be used to shape content in ways that serve Beijing’s interests and undermine trust in democracy. Allegations of TikTok employees engaging in content promotion practices dubbed as “heating” raise further concerns about the platform’s potential for misuse.

TikTok has pushed back against the allegations, insisting that a ban on the platform would violate the First Amendment rights of its American users. The company argues that the government’s claims lack concrete proof and emphasizes confidence in their legal defense. The case, which delves into the implications of TikTok’s operations on national security and freedom of speech, is set for oral arguments in September.