A new public service announcement from the FBI is putting China-based mobile apps such as CapCut under a national security spotlight. The agency warns that foreign-controlled platforms can collect extensive personal data from U.S. users and route it through legal systems that offer little protection against government access.

According to the advisory, apps owned or operated from foreign jurisdictions may log biometric identifiers, location metadata and device information that can be aggregated into detailed user profiles. The FBI says this data can feed intelligence collection, targeted misinformation campaigns and influence operations, especially when combined with algorithmic content curation and recommendation engines.

The PSA urges individuals and organizations to treat foreign social and editing apps as potential attack surfaces in a broader cybersecurity threat model. It recommends reviewing terms of service, limiting permissions and considering the jurisdictional reach of data protection laws before installing or deploying such software on personal or corporate devices. The warning adds to mounting policy pressure on China-linked tech platforms in the United States.