TikTok confirms Chinese engineers write app’s source code, sparking GOP concerns

TikTok confirmed that the app’s source code was written by Chinese engineers, which a leading House Republican says is alarming because it puts Americans’ data directly “at risk” by allowing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to access it through a “back door.” gets to private information.

In an initial letter to CEO Shou Zi Chew on April 10, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., expressed concern about ties between ByteDance — TikTok’s parent company — and the Chinese government.

He also demanded answers on whether anyone in China has access to developing the app’s source code and whether the company can guarantee there are no “backdoor” entry points for malicious parties to get data.

The popular social media company sent a response letter obtained by DailyMail.com to Green on May 8, answering questions from the Republican.

Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s vice president of public policy, confirmed that TikTok has “software engineers all over the world,” including in the “United States and China.”

He noted that using a “global engineering workforce to write software code is not uncommon,” and continues that it’s the “norm” for big tech companies.

“TikTok maintains a software development lifecycle where security controls are tested at multiple points in the development process,” the letter states.

Beckerman outlined other aspects of Project Texas – TikTok’s “framework” for addressing national security concerns by US lawmakers.

He assured Green that under Project Texas, all software and source code is also inspected by Oracle and a separate third party.

“This system provides an unprecedented and comprehensive level of assurance against ‘backdoors’ – to our knowledge, more comprehensive than any other comparable company has committed to despite using a global engineering workforce,” the TikTok leader wrote.

However, the answers from TikTok’s policy officer were not enough to allay the concerns of the Republican top Homeland Security committee.

Green told DailyMail.com in an exclusive statement that based on the company’s response, the “threat of TikTok” has never been clearer.

“In a letter I received from TikTok, I was told that it’s possible that CCP-affiliated engineers could play a role in writing the app’s source code. This puts Americans’ data at risk,” Green said.

“The number of ways the CCP can use technology to oppress its own people and harm Americans is endless. Yet millions of Americans give this regime a glimpse into their lives through apps such as TikTok,” the chairman continues.

It’s unclear if Green will accept Beckerman’s offer to give a Project Texas briefing to address concerns.

“We are pleased to provide you and your staff with a Project Texas briefing to share our progress in implementing protocols through Project Texas to address these concerns,” TikTok’s head of public policy had offered in the letter.

Green previously wrote that if he didn’t get enough information from TikTok CEO Chew, he would be forced to use a subpoena for his testimony.

Chew appeared before Congress in March as lawmakers continue to scrutinize the Chinese app.

Last week, Montana became the first state in the country to completely ban the app.

A spokesperson for TikTok said the company plans to challenge the new law in court.

“We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue to use TikTok to express themselves, make a living and find community as we continue to work to defend the rights of our users inside and outside Montana,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

A handful of other states have restricted the use of the app on government-owned devices and networks.