Roundup: TikTok tracking journalists

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One of those nightmare data scenarios seems to have occurred, where TikTok was found to have improperly accessed the user data of three journalists in order to try and find who was leaking information to them. It’s important to remember that the app aggressively hoovers up data, even more aggressively than apps like Facebook, and it can even gather data on people who don’t even use the app itself. This is precisely why governments around the world have banned it on their devices, and why the US is considering banning it outright, particularly because its owners are in China and subject to the country’s national security laws that can make all of that personal data vulnerable. While one person quit and three were fired in the investigation that followed this incident of improper access, it’s an important reminder that a lot of these kinds of apps are not as benign as they may seem, and for people to be very careful with what permissions they grant the app when they install it.

https://twitter.com/Dennismolin11/status/1605907809945542666

Programming Note: I’m taking the rest of the year off. Loonie Politics columns will still appear in the interim, but everything else is on pause until the New Year. Thanks again for reading, and I’ll see you in 2023!

Ukraine Dispatch, Day 303:

Ukrainian forces shelled the occupied city of Donetsk, injuring a former Russian deputy prime minister and a pro-Moscow official. Here is a look at how Ukrainian pilots are trying to spot incoming Russian missiles and either shoot them down or alert ground-based defences. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took the opportunity to meet with his Polish counterpart on his way home from Washington DC.

https://twitter.com/AndrzejDuda/status/1605984900275994625

Good reads:

  • During a year-ender, Justin Trudeau says that Canada is shifting most of its international assistance from humanitarian aid to infrastructure projects.
  • Trudeau has been called to testify at the trial of the man accused of throwing gravel at him during the campaign. (This is a situation where privilege applies).
  • The federal government says they will partner with Rainbow Railroad to help resettle 600 LGBTQ+ Afghan refugees.
  • The government announced a contract to extend the life of the military’s search-and-rescue helicopter fleet.
  • Treasury Board says they want to focus on improving service for the Access to Information regime rather than reforming the legislation. (Good luck with that).
  • The plan to seize and forfeit sanctioned Russian oligarch assets in Canada could wind up the subject of a Charter challenge.
  • The Human Rights Tribunal says the government misled the public on the First Nations child welfare compensation around a group that was not part of the order.
  • The federal government has rejected an application for an open-pit metallurgical coal mine in BC.

Odds and ends:

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2 thoughts on “Roundup: TikTok tracking journalists”

  1. Have a joy filled Christmas Season, Dale. Thank you for your support of all that is good in journalism- especially your reports from Parliament.You are indeed holding up your end on the Democracy scale.

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