Note, the type of data collected may change over time, including when new versions or features are released.”

“These apps may also collect additional data from individuals’ devices, which extends beyond the content of messages, videos and voice recordings. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Messenger, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter, WeChat, WhatsApp, YouTube and others) typically collect extensive data as part of their business model,” the guidelines said. On Monday, the ASD and the Australian Cyber Security Centre publicly released updated security guidelines that said: “Social media and messaging apps (e.g. In early 2020, the Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner began court action against Facebook over potential breaches of privacy related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal from 2018. UK-based consulting firm Cambridge Analytica infamously used data from Facebook for political profiling ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. Facebook Messenger was signalled out by OpenDemocracy for its excessive data collection, which included name, email, location, user ID, iMessage, photos and videos, health and fitness, and more. The Australian Financial Review reported on analysis by Canberra-based cybersecurity and intelligence firm Internet 2.0 that revealed TikTok checks its users’ device location at least once an hour continuously requests access to contacts even if the user originally denies maps a device’s running apps and all installed apps and more as part of broad permissions asked of users.įacebook has faced intense scrutiny in recent years over its excessive data collection, privacy breaches and nefarious uses of the data it collects from users by third-party platforms. TikTok denies any data can be accessed by the CCP and that it has robust security protocols over who can access it. The Western intelligence community is particularly concerned about TikTok, links between its parent company ByteDance and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and China’s wide-reaching National Intelligence Law. Governments are concerned about data collection by US and Chinese social media companies. Others used TikTok in a more traditional social media sense – Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek did weekly campaign wraps and even the battle of Kooyong, which saw Monique Ryan oust Josh Frydenberg, went to TikTok, although the then-treasurer only posted two videos. Greens leader Adam Bandt posted a video of “the newest Greens candidate” with a “sexy Shrek” filter above Parliament House, and Labor MP Julian Hill was labelled “the undeniable OG of auspol TikTok” by Nine-owned youth publication Pedestrian. Tasmanian senator Jacquie Lambie and Queensland MP Bob Katter have built large followings with videos such as Kath & Kim lip syncs and singing Rasputin. The MPs were told TikTok “could pose a security risk where data on your devices could be accessed by ByteDance (the owner of TikTok) and the Chinese government”.

Earlier this week, New Zealand MPs were advised not to use TikTok on their parliament devices, according to Stuff. The briefing also included an anonymised example of a social media app, all the permissions it seeks and data it collects.

Not all MPs and staffers have been briefed. They were advised not to have government information or private messaging on the same device that holds social media accounts, many of which are used by members of parliament to engage with voters. Social media companies collect huge amounts of data, some unknown or not understood by users. Although the agency did not single out any social media company by name, briefing participants were warned that some apps were conducting excessive data collection and prompting for access to things such as contacts, location, and mapping out all apps on a device. Intelligence and cybersecurity agency the Australian Signals Directorate held confidential briefings with some MPs in recent weeks, sources said. Australian members of parliament and their staffers are being advised to have two phones, to keep government work and private messaging away from any device that has social media apps.

Mps security