TikTok refutes sharing Indian user data with Chinese govt

BEIJING: TikTok has refuted Indian allegations that it shared users’ data with the Chinese government after India banned 59 applications including the wildly popular app as ties with Beijing deteriorate sharply.

The app said in a statement today (Tuesday), privacy and security of users are its top priority. “The firm has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government,” the statement added.

“These claims are simply untrue. We abide by local laws and regulations in the markets where we operate,” it said. The statement further added that the Indian users’ data is stored in the US and Singapore at industry-leading third-party data centers.

“TikTok does not operate in the People’s Republic of China and their government has no access to TikTok users’ data, nor does it have any existing partnership with China Telecom,” the statement added.

The company’s India head, Nikhil Gandhi says, “The Government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok, and we are in the process of complying with it.”

Nikhil Gandhi further said, “We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications.”

 “Further if we are requested to in the future we would not do so,” Nikhil Gandhi said, adding that “hundreds of millions of users, artists, storytellers, educators and performers […] (depend) on it for their livelihood.”

Earlier on June 29, Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat, and Weibo. The ministry of information technology said the apps “are engaged in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.