China says it does not ask companies to 'hand over data' from abroad

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Mar 2023 11:51
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The Chinese government once again confirms that it "attaches great importance to protecting data privacy."

The TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, on August 22, 2022. (Reuters)

China announced on Friday that it does not ask companies to hand over information gathered overseas, as Chinese-owned Tiktok faces a potential nationwide ban in the United States.

China "has never and will not require companies or individuals to collect or provide data located in a foreign country, in a way that violates local law," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

She said the Chinese government "attaches great importance to protecting data privacy."

"The US government has so far not provided any evidence that TikTok poses a threat to its national security, but instead has repeatedly made presumptions of guilt and unreasonable suppression" against the company, Mao added.

"We have also noted that some in the US congress stated that seeking a ban of TikTok is a xenophobic political persecution," she said.

Shou Zik Chew, TikTok CEO, was questioned by US lawmakers who plan to ban the video-sharing platform in the United States claiming that it gathers user data and transfers them to the Chinese government; the US speaks of the alleged ties between China and how it poses danger to teens.

Chew asserted that TikTok or ByteDance, TikTok's other company, is not a tool of the Chinese government as claimed by the US.

"ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government and is a private company," Chew told lawmakers in his opening remarks; ByteDance being TikTok's China-based parent company.

"We believe what's needed are clear transparent rules that apply broadly to all tech companies -- ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns," Chew added.