Due to national security concerns that stem from the Chinese company ByteDance being the owner of TikTok, the US has said that they may impose a ban on the application.
The main factors include the following:
Data Privacy and Security Risks:
- Issues in regard to data privacy stem from US officials considering TikTok to be a possible threat as they might have access to huge amount of data that can be used by the Chinese government under their laws.
- Concerns include sensitive user information being shared or exploited for espionage or influence operations.
Chinese Influence Propaganda:
- The Chinese Government hold a tremendous amount of power and it is concerning that the algorithm provided by TikTok can be designed to showcase encouraging stories about China while concealing stories that criticize the Chinese government.
- Lawmakers argue this poses risks to democratic discourse and information integrity.
Cybersecurity Threats:
- Due to insufficient cyber security measures in regard to the former politian, TikTok has active accosting activity allowing hackers to infiltrate and carry out actions that can have a negative affect on the people using the application and the country itself.
Past Incidents:
- After an investigation was carried out it was discovered that employees of ByteDance attempted to cover up US journalists from exposing them by abusing them.
- This has in recent times caused further skepticism over the Chinese government’s ability to control and use the data it possesses.
Bipartisan Concerns:
- FBI and CIA alongside politicians from both political parties have raised privacy and security concerns regarding TikTok app.
In relation to these concerns, United States has proposed a ban or sale of Bytedance in order for TikTok to be operated legally in the United States. The argument is over China and US competition with respect to technology, trade, and security.
