US Department of Justice Launches Criminal Investigation Into ByteDance Over Alleged Improper Access to User Data

The US Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Chinese tech giant ByteDance, the parent company of the popular social media app TikTok, according to reports from Forbes and The New York Times.

The investigation reportedly involves a subpoena to ByteDance and interviews by the FBI, and follows the firing of four ByteDance employees in December in connection with the incident. This comes as US lawmakers have increased calls for action against the app due to its ties to China and potential national security risks.

The probe is said to be related to ByteDance’s alleged improper access to the personal information of several US citizens, including journalists. Emily Baker-White, a journalist for Forbes who says she was one of reporters who had their TikTok data improperly accessed by ByteDance, was the first to report the federal investigation.

The Biden administration is now considering a possible nationwide TikTok ban if ByteDance does not divest itself from the app, TikTok confirmed to CBS News on Wednesday.

The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear what the outcome will be. However, it is clear that the US government is taking the allegations of improper access to user data seriously and is taking steps to ensure the safety of US citizens.