The FBI warns third-party apps can collect your data even if you don’t use them
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Your personal data can be collected and stored overseas — even if you never download a foreign-developed app yourself — according to a new FBI warning about the dangers associated with popular mobile platforms.
That means information like your name, email address or phone number can be removed from someone else’s contact list and possibly stored overseas if a friend or family member gives the app access to their device.
The warning comes after years of scrutiny of TikTok’s relationship with China, but the FBI warning suggests that concerns extend beyond any one platform to a wide range of apps developed in other countries.
In a public service announcement, the FBI said many widely used apps developed overseas, particularly those linked to China, can access extensive data once permissions are granted, including address books containing information on both users and non-users.
Your personal data can be collected and stored overseas — even if you never download a foreign-developed app yourself — according to a new FBI warning about the dangers associated with popular mobile platforms. (akub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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The bureau also warned that some apps may continue to collect data in the background after access is granted and, in some cases, store that information on servers in countries where local laws would allow government access.
“Engineering companies may store information collected from users’ personal information and address books, such as names, email addresses, user IDs, residential addresses, and phone numbers of stored contacts,” the FBI said.
“The app can continue to collect data and private information from users across the device, not just within the app or while the app is running.”
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The FBI did not name specific companies, but the warning could apply to a range of widely used apps developed by Chinese firms — including video editing platform CapCut, shopping apps like Temu and SHEIN, and social networks like Lemon8 — several of which are among the most downloaded apps in the United States.
U.S. officials have long warned that data collected by Chinese-linked platforms could be used to create detailed profiles of Americans, map personal and professional networks, and potentially support intelligence-gathering efforts, especially if accessed under China’s national security laws.
The FBI added that apps operating in China are subject to the country’s privacy laws, which could allow the government to access user data.
U.S. officials have long warned that data collected by Chinese-linked platforms could be used to create detailed profiles of Americans, map personal and professional networks, and potentially support intelligence-gathering efforts, especially if accessed under China’s national security laws. (Photos by Antonio Masiello/Getty)
The FBI also pointed to potential warning signs that an app may be collecting more data than expected, including unusual battery drains, increased data usage, or unauthorized account activity after installation — indicators that could suggest background data collection or other suspicious behavior.
The office urged users to limit unnecessary data sharing, download apps from official app stores only, and review permissions granted by mobile platforms. The bureau also warned that applications found on third-party sites may carry malware designed to gain unauthorized access to personal data.
Years of scrutiny of TikTok, culminating in a 2026 deal that forced the Chinese parent company to relinquish control of US operations to an American-led group to address concerns about data access and national security.
The FBI also pointed to potential warning signs that an app may be collecting more data than expected, including unusual battery drains, increased data usage, or unauthorized account activity after installation — indicators that could suggest background data collection or other suspicious behavior. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)
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The FBI’s latest warning suggests those risks could extend beyond a single platform to a wide range of foreign-developed apps used by millions of Americans.
The Chinese embassy could not be reached for comment.
