“Effectively countering foreign interference through social media is, therefore, one of Australia’s most pressing security challenges,” it said, adding that the rise in the use of social media could “corrupt our decision-making, political discourse and societal norms.”
The committee that compiled the report was particularly concerned by the national security threat posed by social media platforms such as TikTok and WeChat.
The parent companies of both apps ByteDance and Tencent, have headquarters in and are run out of China.
“China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law means the Chinese government can require these social media companies to secretly cooperate with Chinese intelligence agencies,” the report said.
Why aren’t those damn kids using OUR spyware?
And if tiktok and WeChat are “Australia’s biggest security threat”, then why are they spending almost a quarter of Australia’s annual GDP on nuclear submarines?
Australian nuclear submarine program to cost up to $368b as AUKUS details unveiled in the US
And why are they making guided missiles if all they need to stop “the biggest national security threat to Australia” is an internet firewall?
US pledges to help Australia manufacture guided missiles by 2025