TikTok fear reaches new heights in suburbs

Concerns over the Chinese Communist Party’s ability to access personal data via TikTok has reached fever-pitch in these suburbs.

The Chinese Communist Party’s ability to access personal data via TikTok is causing angst for Victorians in the inner-city and the outer suburbs, according to an alarming new poll.

The fears come as the federal opposition amps up calls for more to be done to protect the “millions of Australians at risk”.

Almost four in five respondents in the seat of McEwen in Melbourne’s north, and three in four respondents in the inner Melbourne seat of Kooyong have expressed worry about social media app users’ personal data.

Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson, who commissioned the Tele Town Hall poll conducted last week, said: “Australians are miles ahead of the government in recognising the threats associated with social media apps that are subject to the dictates of an authoritarian regimen”.

“The Albanese government must resist the PR, advertising and lobbying blitz launched by TikTok seeing to protect their unregulated access to Australians private data,” the opposition cyber security spokesman said.

TikTok is popular among young teens.

Almost 630 voters in McEwan and more than 1200 voters in Kooyong were last week asked: “Are you concerned about the ability for the Chinese Communist Party to access Australians’ personal information on social media platforms such as TikTok?”

TikTok is a Chinese-founded app owned by ByteDance. It has repeatedly sought to alleviate Australian privacy fears saying it would “never give Australian user data directly to the Chinese government”.

But TikTok Australia in July acknowledged that Australian user data was accessible in China, adding internal access was limited.

Security experts has also raised concerns because China’s 2017 national security laws mean citizens and businesses must help Chinese intelligence agencies gather data, as well as deny involvement, if asked.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has already requested an investigation into regulation for data harvesting by social media companies including TikTok, which is expected to provide options to tackle the growing issue next year.

Senator Paterson has previously called on the Albanese government to not rule out banning the app, which is used by seven million Australians, before the review is completed.

Meanwhile, cyber security experts will gather in Canberra on Tuesday, with the need to bolster protections at the top of the agenda following the Optus data hack.

Home Affairs Department secretary Michael Pezzullo and Australian Federal Police cybercrime operations commander Chris Goldsmid will be among several speakers to address The Australian Cyber Security Conference in Canberra.

The conference will address the latest cyber-related legislative and policy developments, the role existing and emerging technologies play in protecting data, as well as how organisations can strengthen their cyber defences.

Originally published as TikTok fear reaches new heights in suburbs