Staff Reports
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, reportedly monitored the activities of two journalists who used the social media app.
According to an internal investigation, four employees monitored the activities of the journalists. They gathered data from various apps in the US to identify the individuals who leaked information.
The investigation is the latest development in the controversy surrounding TikTok, which has been under scrutiny due to its ties with the Chinese government.
The employees were able to access the data related to the journalists, including their IP address and the people they were closely associated with. Their goal was to see if they were in proximity to ByteDance employees.
Emily Baker-White, a reporter for Forbes, said on Twitter that ByteDance used the app to monitor her location and the locations of two of her colleagues. She previously worked at media company BuzzFeed.
In response to the incident, ByteDance said it has fired its chief internal auditor, Chris Lepitak, and its China-based executive, Song Ye. Both of them resigned from their positions.
"In an internal email, ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo said he was deeply disappointed by the incident. He noted that it would have a negative impact on the company's public trust. He also said that the actions of a few individuals would serve as a lesson for all of the company's employees."
In an internal email, TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew said he was disappointed by the incident, but he also emphasized the company's dedication to protecting the data of its users. He noted that the company had been working on improving its security infrastructure in the US.
In October, it was reported that TikTok had attempted to monitor the activities of journalists and other American civilians. The incident prompted an investigation by ByteDance'S legal team. The reports about the company's activities came months after it was revealed that employees based in China had been able to access US data.
This week, the US Congress is expected to ban the installation of TikTok on government devices. The Senate passed the legislation earlier this month, and the House is also expected to pass it.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Washington Examiner.
