ByteDance (TikTok) claims it's a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, a tax haven. The reason for this unusual boast is to show it is not a Chinese company. However, this was laid bare last month when Wang Wenbing, a spokesperson for the Chinese Government, confirmed...1/4
...that ByteDance is in fact a Chinese company. This is important because it means ByteDance and its subsidiaries, including TikTok, are subject to the Chinese National Intelligence Law - a law requiring Chinese organisations to hand over data to the Chinese Government... 2/4
...upon request, regardless of where such data was obtained. Also requires firms (when asked) to lie about receiving or complying with such requests. This law has deeply troubling implications for the security of data that all too many in the West gladly hand over to TikTok. 3/4
