How TikTok became a US-China national security issue - CNA

Depending on whom you ask, the short-form video app TikTok is where you watch goofy dances and makeup tutorials, or it’s a gravely sophisticated threat to US national security.

Because TikTok is owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance - and because China is known to be interested in having its technology companies share the data they collect - its ubiquitous popularity among Americans carries geopolitical implications far beyond the mobile-phone screen.  

WHAT MAKES TIKTOK DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES?

Like US-owned social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, TikTok collects all sorts of data about each user and through an algorithm, uses that information to deliver more of what the person seems to want.

But TikTok is viewed as potentially the most advanced, and uncannily effective, at learning about your interests - based on how long you stay with a video and whether you like, forward or comment on it - and, through its algorithm, delivering more of that to your “For You” feed. Some people joke that TikTok’s “For You” knows you better than you know yourself.

That makes Chinese ownership of TikTok - the most salient difference between it and other social media, in the eyes of US critics - particularly worrisome. So does this: American adult users of TikTok will spend an average of 56 minutes a day on the app this year, far more than on either Facebook or Instagram, according to researcher Insider Intelligence. 

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST WORRIES ABOUT TIKTOK?

The national security concerns involve hypothetical, though not implausible, scenarios in which China’s government employs its influence over ByteDance to turn TikTok into an instrument of harm against American interests, through such channels as:

• Data collection: Along with what you seem to be interested in, TikTok learns your computer’s unique internet protocol (IP) address as well as - if you choose to let it - your precise location data and who is on your contact list. All that could be used to “develop profiles on millions of Americans” that could be used to blackmail them, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, both Republicans, wrote in November.
• Espionage: A 2020 executive order by then-president Donald Trump broached the possibility that China could use TikTok’s data to “track the locations of federal employees and contractors” and to “conduct corporate espionage”.
• Influence operations: US national security officials are concerned that TikTok could try to shape US public opinion by strategically suppressing or promoting certain videos.

IS THERE EVIDENCE TO BACK UP THOSE CONCERNS?

In December, the chief executives of ByteDance and TikTok admitted that ByteDance employees had inappropriately accessed the IP address of American users, including journalists writing critical stories about the company.

The Justice Department is investigating whether that amounted to improper surveillance of Americans. While not involving TikTok specifically, there have been numerous reports in recent years about China attempting through various means to influence US politics, including elections. These types of concerted campaigns continue to proliferate across all social media apps.

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2023-03-23 07:25:00Z
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Ties with federal government improved under PM Anwar, says Johor Sultan - CNA

Separately, Sultan Ibrahim also stressed that the country’s reputation has been damaged by corruption. He urged Mr Anwar and the relevant agencies to take action, adding that the “whole system” needs to be cleaned up. 

“Change. Clean up the whole system and clear the corrupt, no matter who they are,” said Sultan Ibrahim, according to The Star. 

As part of his clampdown on corruption, Mr Anwar told the country’s civil servants in November last year that approvals for government procurement can no longer be given without a tender process. 

He said then that the government under his leadership will not allow for financial leakages and corruption to continue, adding that the image of the civil service must be restored. 

Earlier in January, it was reported that Malaysia scored lower again in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index 2022 (CPI 2022). 

The index ranks 180 countries and territories around the world by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, scoring on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

According to the anti-graft group’s latest report, Malaysia had a CPI score of 47 for 2022. This a six-point drop over the preceding three years.

FMT reported that, in 2019, Malaysia had a CPI score of 53, but this reduced to 51 in 2020, and 48 in 2021.

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2023-03-23 07:52:00Z
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'Cleanfluencers' sweep TikTok, drawing millions - CNA

She can relate to people living in miserable conditions because she went through a period of depression herself, she said.

"I know how overwhelming it is," she said.

But her experience has shown her that no situation is hopeless.

The comments sections of her videos are filled with people saying how her videos have helped them cope with their difficulties, praising her non-judgemental manner.

"I love how she is understanding the person in this situation and helping them instead of blaming them," one commenter wrote.

TIKTOK TIDIERS

With the global rise of TikTok, cleaning videos have become hugely popular on social media, inspiring a growing number to start posting content.

"I was watching videos and I thought, that's what I do at home, I can just film myself doing it," recalled 27-year-old Abbi, known as cleanwithabbi to her 2 million followers.

The English single mum films herself cleaning, doing the dishes and hoovering in her red brick home in Huyton near Liverpool.

Cleaning has always been an important part of her life as her youngest son Billy lives with sensory processing disorder.

"He really loves his routine and he does like things to be clean," she said.

Now Abbi, who does not wish to reveal her full name, posts TikTok videos for a living. Brands sponsor her to use their products, and she earns between US$720 and US$1,200 a video.

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2023-03-23 04:27:51Z
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Xi departs Russia after 'new era' summit with Putin - CNA

"UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES"

Moscow and Beijing have over the past years ramped up cooperation, both driven by a desire to counterbalance US global dominance.

The Chinese leader's Moscow visit has been viewed as a boost for Putin, who is subject to an International Criminal Court warrant over accusations of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

"I am sure that Russian-Chinese cooperation has truly unlimited possibilities and prospects," Putin said at a state dinner following the talks, where he toasted the "prosperity" of Russian and Chinese people.

He earlier gushed over the "special nature" of the relationship between the two countries in remarks broadcast on state television.

On the second day of his visit to Moscow, Xi said ties with Russia were "entering a new era".

Putin called the talks "meaningful and frank" and said that Russia, which has been largely cut out of European markets because of sanctions, would be able to meet China's "growing demand" for energy.

Energy is a key focus of Xi's visit, and Putin announced the two countries had reached an agreement on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which will connect Siberia to northwest China.

US "UNDERMINING" GLOBAL SECURITY

In a joint statement, the two leaders took aim at the West, accusing the United States of undermining global security.

"The parties call on the United States to stop undermining international and regional security and global strategic stability in order to secure its unilateral military advantage," Russia and China said in the declaration.

They also expressed "great concern" over NATO's growing presence in Asia.

On Monday, Xi and Putin held four and a half hours of talks, calling each other "dear friend".

China and Russia have often worked in lockstep at the UN Security Council, using their veto power as permanent council members to counter the West.

Russia's assault on Ukraine has also deepened fears among Western powers that China could one day try to take control of the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of its territory.

China has sought to portray itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, but Washington has said Beijing's moves could be a "stalling tactic" to help Moscow.

The United States has also accused Beijing of mulling arms exports to Moscow, claims China has vociferously denied.

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2023-03-22 10:26:54Z
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'Guns and Roses': Bulgaria arms trade booms on Ukraine war - CNA

KAZANLAK: With its huge munitions factories and endless rose fields, Kazanlak in central Bulgaria has been really living up to its "Guns and Roses" nickname since Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Bulgaria's booming arms industry has never had it so good, with exports estimated at US$4.3 billion last year - three times its previous record.

The country's oldest arms maker Arsenal, which already employs 7,000 workers in its Kazanlak plant, is offering seaside holidays and other incentives to attract staff.

It has even been tempting back Bulgarians who left the Balkan country to find work abroad.

"When they hired us they said there's orders to keep us busy for at least five years," one of the newly hired workers told AFP at the factory gates.

"I have only been here a week myself, but I already have three new colleagues," said the woman, who would not give her name.

HISTORIC RUSSIA LINKS

While you might think it would be trumpeting its success from the rooftops, the company did not reply to AFP requests for an interview.

Although Bulgaria itself has largely not sent arms to Ukraine because of the EU member's historic ties with Moscow, that is where Kazanlak's burgeoning production is mostly destined.

Its arms and munitions are instead being bought up by neighbouring Romania and Poland before being funnelled to Kyiv.

Kazanlak and the "Valley of the Roses" around it, which is also famous for its rosewater, suffered badly when its arms makers lost their markets when the Soviet bloc collapsed in 1989, though conflicts in the Middle East revived demand for their cheap and sturdy weapons, like the AR-M1, the "Bulgarian Kalashnikov" rifle, in the 2010s.

Arsenal's upturn "benefits the whole town", Yordan Ignatov, deputy chair of the local chamber of commerce, said.

"Last year, Kazanlak had the lowest unemployment rate in the country after Sofia," he added, half the national average.

Investment is also booming.

"Everything that is built is bought," real estate agent Teodor Tenev told AFP.

Bulgaria specialises in ammunition for Soviet-era weapons - those most used by Kyiv - though it wants to modernise its ageing production facilities with European money to start churning out NATO-standard shells and other ammo.

And there was more good news on that front Monday when European Union foreign ministers agreed on a €2 billion plan that included jointly purchasing desperately needed artillery shells for Ukraine.

Even though it stands to vastly benefit from the deal, Sofia sought to save its diplomatic blushes by not signing the joint declaration.

Nor did its reticence stop EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton from starting a tour last week of European arms makers in Bulgaria.

Up the road from Kazanlak in Sopot, Breton visited the country's biggest arms maker, VMZ.

The state-owned plant has a new production line for the 155mm artillery shells that Ukraine's army needs. Breton's visit was not open to the media.

"NOT A POLITICAL PAWN"

Supplying arms to Ukraine is an extremely sensitive issue in Bulgaria.

The Socialists - the successors to the old communist party - and the ever-rising ultra-nationalists are firmly against as the country gears up for the fifth election in two years next month.

Parliament so far has authorised only one shipment of light arms and ammunition to Kyiv.

Shortly after the invasion began, pro-European then-premier Kiril Petkov walked a tightrope to try to help Kyiv.

"We estimate that one-third of the ammunition needed by Ukraine in the first phase of the war came from Bulgaria," Petkov told the German daily Die Welt.

Even after the fall of Petkov's short-lived cabinet last June, indirect arms sales continued.

Retired Bulgarian army colonel Vladimir Milenski regrets that Bulgaria has refused to openly arm Kyiv.

"This would have sent a strong political signal showing that we are not a political pawn in Russia's hands," he said.

"To belong to the EU and NATO family and behave in such a way as not to infringe on the interests of Russia, an aggressor, is in the end tantamount to supporting it."

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2023-03-22 05:53:28Z
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'I could have lost my life': Tourist's bungee cord snaps in midair in Thailand - The Straits Times

The bungee cord of a tourist leaping from a 10-storey-high platform in Thailand snapped in midair, sending him plunging into a lake in Pattaya.

The man from Hong Kong, known only as Mike, momentarily blacked out in the water, but regained consciousness and swam out of the lake with the help of the attraction’s employees. He was then taken to hospital, Hong Kong news outlet hk01 reported.

The incident reportedly happened in February in the Changthai Thappraya Safari and Adventure Park located in the popular Thai tourist destination of Pattaya.

Mike told hk01: “The pain was so intense that I felt dizzy. As my arms were stretched out, my armpit area was the worst hit.”

A video of the incident shows Mike free falling for about six seconds from a height of about 30m and approaching the surface of the lake when the bungee cord suddenly breaks.

He enters the water head first from a height of about 5m with a big splash, to the horror of his friends who were watching and filming the jump.

Pictures of his injuries show bruises on his limbs, with the skin around his armpit area appearing peeled.

Mike told hk01 he also had a lung infection and was hospitalised for three days after returning to Hong Kong.

His medical bills, which came up to about HK$50,000 (S$8,500), were covered by travel insurance. He said the park offered him only HK$2,300, comprising HK$1,800 in medical fees and a HK$500 refund of the bungee jump.

Mike said he has written an e-mail to the park and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to file a complaint but has not received a reply.

He wrote: “My friends and I suffered losses due to the accident, including changes to our travel plans, my injuries and income loss... If the accident had been more severe, I could have lost my life.”

Last November, a woman visiting Colombia accidentally leapt to her death after forgetting she was not attached to a bungee cord.

Ms Yecenia Morales Gomez, 25, allegedly heard an instructor telling her partner to jump and believed the command was for her.

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2023-03-22 02:19:02Z
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Snap Insight: Did Xi Jinping get what he wanted from Vladimir Putin in Russia visit? - CNA

WELLINGTON: All eyes have been on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s high-stakes visit to Moscow, just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin became an alleged war criminal with a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court at the Hague.

On Tuesday (Mar 21), Xi and Putin signed a joint declaration deepening the China-Russia partnership, more than a year after they proclaimed “no limits” to that relationship in Beijing before Putin launched his “special military operation” in Ukraine.

But what does Xi really want from Putin and more importantly, did Xi get what he wanted?

PLAYING PEACEMAKER

Much attention around Xi’s visit, of course, has been on Ukraine, with Western concerns that China might support Russia militarily.

China has been walking a political tightrope given its long-held principle of respecting national sovereignty. Xi has not openly supported Putin’s war, with China taking a more neutral position than what Putin might have expected from a “no limits” friend. But neither has China condemned the war, having abstained from several rounds of voting at the United Nations.

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2023-03-22 00:28:00Z
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