CCP-Tied ‘Spyware’ TikTok Cuts Deal With Mercedes-Benz

Clocks and phones aren’t the only devices that go tik-tok now, thanks to Mercedes-Benz. TikTok has cut a deal with car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz for the popular Chinese-owned social media app to appear on the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class’s updated MBUX infotainment system.

While the app will be in Mercedes-Benz cars in several markets in fall 2023, including the U.S., TechCrunch said the deal is illustrative of Mercedes-Benz’s “interest and presence in the Chinese market.”

TikTok is owned by Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-tied ByteDance, where Chinese employees can directly access U.S. user data. All companies in China are directly answerable to the CCP and the CCP enforces “civil-military fusion,” where everything in the economic and tech spheres is accessible to the Chinese military. The CCP does own a board seat and financial stake in ByteDance, even beyond the ability of the CCP to access all its data. GOP lawmakers including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have slammed TikTok as Chinese “spyware.” 

Mercedes-Benz doesn’t share the concern. Its updated MBUX system features a “superscreen” across the whole car dashboard, TechCrunch reported. When the car is parked, drivers can bring up videos on the TikTok app, and passengers can use TikTok on their own screen while the car is moving.