Overview
- The FBI, in a Public Service Announcement released Monday, warns that some foreign-developed apps can collect and keep large amounts of data from a phone.
- The bureau says companies that run infrastructure in China fall under national security laws that can require them to hand over user information.
- Once users grant permissions, apps may pull data across the device in the background and scrape contact lists, capturing details about people who never installed the app.
- The warning flags malware risks from apps with hidden code, with higher danger when downloading from unofficial sites or third-party stores on Android compared with Apple’s App Store model.
- The PSA does not list specific apps, though coverage points to CapCut, Shein, Temu, and Lemon8 as examples, and the notice adds to ongoing U.S. debates over TikTok-style data access and control rather than imposing a ban.