The Justice Department (DOJ) recently accused TikTok of collecting user data on contentious social issues such as abortion and gun control. Filed in a Washington appeals court, the documents allege that TikTok and its parent company ByteDance utilized an internal communication system called Lark. 

This system reportedly enabled TikTok employees to collaborate with ByteDance engineers in China, facilitating the collection of sensitive information about user opinions on various social and religious topics. This data, stored on Chinese servers, was accessible to ByteDance employees, raising significant privacy and security concerns.

The DOJ warned that the collected data could be exploited by the Chinese government for “covert content manipulation.” The brief suggested that ByteDance might manipulate TikTok’s algorithm to influence public opinion, undermine trust in democratic processes, and exacerbate social divisions in the United States. This potential misuse of data has prompted bipartisan discussions among U.S. lawmakers about possibly banning TikTok due to national security risks.

In response to the allegations, a TikTok spokesperson contended that banning the app would violate the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech. Despite these assurances, the DOJ’s claims have intensified the debate over TikTok’s presence in the U.S., highlighting ongoing concerns about data privacy and the influence of foreign entities on American social and political landscapes. Lawmakers continue to weigh the implications of TikTok’s data practices and their impact on national security, making it a contentious issue.