The FBI has released a public service announcement cautioning Americans about mobile apps originating from China. According to the announcement, several top-grossing apps in the U.S. are developed by foreign companies, particularly those in China, and there are risks involved. China’s National Intelligence Law mandates these companies provide data to the government. Although specific apps weren’t named by the FBI, popular apps like ByteDance’s CapCut and Lemon8, along with shopping apps Temu and Shein, might be of concern.
The FBI’s warning highlights the ease of access the Chinese government might have to user data due to China’s national security laws. This has echoes of the issues surrounding TikTok, where ByteDance had to sell a majority stake to U.S. investors to operate in America. Apart from apps, the U.S. government under President Trump targeted Chinese competitors in industries like drones and routers, citing national security concerns.
Further, the FBI’s PSA underscores the risks involved when users grant apps data-collection permissions, such as access to contacts, which could lead to sensitive data storage on servers in China. The Bureau also advises caution against downloading apps from third-party stores to avoid potential malware, mainly affecting Android users.
To safeguard data, the FBI recommends turning off unnecessary data sharing, updating passwords regularly, and keeping devices updated with the latest software and security patches.