FBI Warns of Risks from Foreign-Developed Apps

The FBI recently issued an alert cautioning that Americans’ personal data could be susceptible to collection and overseas storage, even if they have never used foreign-developed apps themselves. This concern extends to situations where personal information, such as names, email addresses, or phone numbers, is accessed through someone else’s contact list when an app gains permission to access their device.

While scrutiny over TikTok’s connections to China has been ongoing for years, the FBI alert indicates that worries are not limited to one specific platform but apply broadly to a range of overseas-developed apps. In a public service announcement, the FBI emphasized that many popular apps created abroad, especially those associated with China, can access a wide range of data once permissions are granted. This includes address books containing information on both users and non-users.

Your personal data could be collected and stored overseas — even if you never download a foreign-developed app yourself — according to a new FBI alert.

The FBI noted that some apps might keep collecting data in the background after permission is given and could store this data on servers in countries where local laws might permit government access. The bureau cautioned that developers can store collected data, encompassing users’ private information and address details such as names, email addresses, user IDs, physical addresses, and phone numbers of stored contacts. Data collection might persist throughout the device beyond just the app or when the app is active.

While the FBI did not name specific companies, the warning might relate to various widely used apps from Chinese companies. This includes video-editing platforms like CapCut, shopping apps such as Temu and SHEIN, and social media platforms like Lemon8, many of which are among the most downloaded apps in the U.S. Concerns are that data from platforms linked to China could serve to build detailed profiles of Americans, map out personal and professional networks, and possibly aid intelligence gathering, especially if accessed under China’s national security laws.

The FBI added that apps operating in China are subject to national security laws potentially allowing government access to user data. Indicators that an app may be gathering more data than anticipated include unusual battery drain, spikes in data usage, or unauthorized account activity after installation. These signs could suggest background data collection or other suspicious behavior.

The FBI advises users to limit unnecessary data sharing, download apps exclusively from official app stores, and frequently review permissions granted to mobile platforms. They further warn that apps obtained from third-party sites may carry malware designed to gain unauthorized access to personal data.

Years of scrutiny over TikTok culminated in a 2026 agreement forcing its Chinese parent company to hand over control of U.S. operations to an American-led group, addressing worries over data access and national security. The FBI’s latest warning implies that risks associated with foreign-developed apps may affect millions of Americans using a wide array of these platforms.

The Chinese embassy was not immediately available for comment.