Main points
- TikTok’s future in the United States is uncertain amid national security concerns and a bill aimed at forcing ByteDance to sell the app.
- The ban could affect millions of U.S. users and small businesses, sparking protests and urging users to speak out against it.
- While concerns about data security are legitimate, banning TikTok may not solve the problem, with potential consequences for U.S. user data.
TikTok is one of the best social media apps in the world. The app created by ByteDance has about 150 million active users in the United States alone, at least that’s what Statista reported in January. This is thanks to short-form videos that users create and consume, making them perfect for humor, short recipes, curiosities, and more. However, the U.S. government doesn’t like the app and has been working to ban it over accusations of a national security threat, and it looks like the ban will eventually be implemented.
The story goes back to 2020, when President Trump made it clear, “As far as TikTok is concerned, we are banning them from entering the United States.” Of course, factors such as time have changed Trump’s views on the topic, giving ByteDance more time to deal with this mess. President Biden also reversed the TikTok ban and other executive orders in 2021, leading us to believe that the drama is coming to an end as the White House changes its stance on app security, according to the Wall Street Journal:
“The Department of Commerce will be required to review applications involving software applications designed, developed, manufactured, or provided by persons owned or controlled or governed by foreign adversaries, including the People’s Republic of China, that may pose a risk to the national security of the United States and its people. pose inappropriate or unacceptable risks.”
Unfortunately for Chinese owner ByteDance, the latest incident could jeopardize TikTok’s standing in the United States, as the House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban the app unless it is sold. This obviously does not help relations between China and the United States, as the two countries continue to take actions that prioritize national security, free speech, and the social media industry. The bill received strong bipartisan support and passed with 352 votes in favor and only 65 votes against.
The main purpose of the bill is to force ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner within six months, failing which the app will be banned.
The main reason why this bill passed overwhelmingly was that members of the House of Representatives believed that “Chinese ownership of the platform poses serious national security risks to the United States, including the ability to interfere in elections. “ This makes sense considering the 2024 presidential election will be held in November. The main purpose of the bill is to force ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner within six months, failing which the app will be banned.
Of course, the ban will also affect the millions of Americans who use the app, as well as a large number of small businesses, or at least that’s what TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek thinks, claiming:
“The process is secret and this bill is blocked for one reason: it is a ban. We hope the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and recognize the impact this will have on the economy, the 7 million small businesses, and the people who use our Impact on the 170 million Americans served.”
Which American companies can acquire TikTok?
Back in 2020, we saw several big names interested in buying TikTok, with ByteDance eventually deciding to sell the app to a group including Oracle and Walmart, but when ByteDance won the legal issues that forced them to sell the video Finally, the transaction failed. Streaming media platform. Now, ByteDance may have to once again look for possible buyers, which include Microsoft, Kevin O’Leary and Elon Musk, among others.
TikTok is still trying to buck the trend, claiming “It has gone to great lengths to protect U.S. user data and provide third-party oversight of the platform, and no government can influence the company’s recommendation models. ” Additionally, the company stated “There is no evidence that Beijing uses TikTok to obtain U.S. user data or influence American opinions,” These are some of the biggest concerns for U.S. lawmakers.
TikTok has also invested more than $1 billion in a Texas project to separately process U.S. user data. The program has been in place for many years and is overseen by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), but unfortunately it has not had the desired effect, leading to the creation of this bill.
Unfortunately, the bill does not address the main issue, which is the data involving American Airlines and how easily those responsible for the social media app can access this information. Yes, you would take the app away from the Chinese, but how do you know we won’t have another Cambridge Analytica scandal? The company claims it has access to Facebook data so its customers can better target political messages, another reason Trump opposed the ban. He believes this legislation will strengthen Meta and make people turn to Facebook and Instagram to fill the void left by TikTok. More specifically, the former president said:
“If we get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business. I don’t want Facebook, which cheated in the last election, to do better. They are the true enemy of the people!”
The latest chapter in the story is that TikTok sent messages to users urging them to “speak out” against a U.S. bill banning the app. Many users have taken action, protesting and calling House offices to voice their stance. question. Some of these offices reported more than 20 calls per minute, which resulted in some offices temporarily turning off their phones.
We can understand U.S. lawmakers’ interest in protecting U.S. data security, but this ban does not solve the problem. It only changes who holds TikTok user data. Ultimately, we will have to wait to see if the Senate approves the bill, as President Biden has said he will sign it if so.
New York Times