Controversial and highly popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok has confirmed that it is dealing with a cyber-attack that compromised several accounts of brands and celebrities.
The company, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, said that a "very limited" number of accounts were affected and that they are working with users to restore access.
CNN compromised
One of the high-profile accounts affected belonged to news outlet CNN.
"We have been collaborating closely with CNN to restore account access and implement enhanced security measures to safeguard their account moving forward," a TikTok spokesperson said.
"We are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the platform and will continue to monitor for any further inauthentic activity."
TikTok also reported that the account of reality TV star Paris Hilton was targeted, although it was not compromised.
Hilton, who is an active user with more than 10 million followers, continues to use the platform without any disruption.
The cyber-attack on TikTok comes amid increasing scrutiny and challenges for the platform, particularly in the United States.
TikTok faces the threat of a ban in the US unless it is divested from its Chinese parent company, Bytedance.
The platform, which has millions of users worldwide, has been under fire for concerns over data security and its connections to the Chinese government.
Additionally, TikTok is becoming a significant platform in the US political landscape.
Trump a TikToker
Former President Donald Trump, who attempted to ban the app on national security grounds during his tenure but has done a 180 since he started campaigning in earnest for re-election, recently joined TikTok and has already garnered more than five million followers.
He says he’ll use the platform to communicate directly with the American public.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is also using TikTok for his re-election campaign, though his follower count is significantly lower, at around 350,000.
TikTok did not provide further details on the perpetrators of the attack or the methods used but it pledged its commitment to ensuring the security and integrity of its platform as it navigates these security challenges.