During recent House testimony, FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed skepticism about China's commitment not to interfere in the upcoming 2024 US elections. Wray's comments followed a statement by Chinese diplomat Wang Yi to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, promising non-interference. Wray underscored his mistrust by stating, “China’s promised a lot of things over the years, so I guess I'll believe it when I see it.” The FBI Director also highlighted the risks posed by TikTok, owned by ByteDance which is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He pointed out the app's recommendation algorithm could be used for influence operations, and the CCP's ability to control software on millions of devices. When asked if TikTok feeds could be biased to favor a candidate in the presidential election, Wray affirmed that Chinese law would permit such actions. Calls for action against TikTok, such as a ban or forced sale, were amplified by China committee chair Gallagher, citing the urgency of the matter in light of Wray's testimony.
FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers there is little to stop China from tinkering with the inner workings of TikTok to influence American voters ahead of the November elections. https://t.co/yAz3FM4lC3
Racism is the card the Communist Party of China plays when they have nowhere else to turn. TikTok is a digital cancer that’s infected the entirety of American 🇺🇸 youth. Did anyone listen to FBI Director Wray’s testimony before Congress yesterday? “The most 1/3 https://t.co/Ax389t2hFp
.@ivan_tsarynny, CEO of Feroot cybersecurity, testifies @USCC_GOV on the cyber risks of TikTok. He says ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, uses technology that collects large amounts of U.S. users' data--even from people who have never used TikTok. https://t.co/dQ3M06n7MA
FBI director Christopher Wray ridicules Xi Jinping 's promise to Biden https://t.co/c6Caxrufl4 https://t.co/nhMqa4fbdf
1) China cmte chair Gallagher on China: There are things that we must do now urgently. Foremost among them, in my opinion, particularly in light of the testimony we heard from Director Wray, either ban or force the sale of TikTok.
.@RepCarlos: “Would you ban @tiktok_us in the United States?” @FBI Director Wray: “As long as the Chinese government has the ability to control all these aspects of the business — I don’t see how you get your way clear to mitigating those concerns.” https://t.co/1T7zB0grU7
🚨NEWS: I just asked @FBI Director Wray if #TikTok should be banned. This is what he had to say: https://t.co/XONPIYz2AQ
FBI Director Christopher Wray expresses skepticism about China's reported pledge not to interfere in the 2024 elections: “China's promised a lot of things over the years. So, I guess I'll believe it when I see it.” https://t.co/B00n9EbK9Y
.@RepMoulton: "If the CCP were to want to change @tiktok_us feeds to bias 1 candidate… in the upcoming presidential election, would they be able to do so?" @FBI Director Wray: "My understanding is that under Chinese law that would be something they are permitted to do.” https://t.co/bTAgTjuSzy
.@RepGallagher: “What is the risk posed by @tiktok_us?” @FBI Director Wray: 1. “The app’s parent company is… beholden to the CCP.” 2. “Recommendation algorithm — which could be used for… influence operations.” 3. “The ability… to control software on millions of devices.” https://t.co/ICJCpWbjfC
❖ FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY ON CHINA’S PROMISE NOT TO INTERFERE IN US 2024 ELECTION: ‘I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT’
FBI Director Chris Wray responding during House testimony to news that Wang Yi told Jake Sullivan China wouldn't interfere in the 2024 election: “China’s promised a lot of things over the years, so I guess I'll believe it when I see it.”