TikTok ban in the US: Everything you need to know
The popular social media platform TikTok which emerged in 2016 has since taken the world by a storm. However, the popular app has faced significant scrutiny in the United States, leading to concerns about national security and user data privacy. As a result, the US government has taken steps to ban the popular sparking a debate about the future of the app and its millions of users. We’ll explore the ban, platform its implications, and what it means for its users in the United States.
1. Background:
- TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has rapidly grown in popularity, especially among younger users, since its launch in 2016.
- However, the app has faced criticism and regulatory scrutiny over concerns about its handling of user data and its ties to the Chinese government.
2. Executive Orders:
- In August 2020, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for a ban on TikTok unless it was sold to a US company within 45 days.
- The executive order cited national security concerns and alleged that the platform was collecting user data that could be accessed by the Chinese government.
3. Legal Challenges:
- TikTok challenged the executive order in court, arguing that it was unconstitutional and exceeded the president’s authority.
- In September 2020, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the ban, allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States.
4. Biden Administration’s Review:
- The Biden administration has conducted a review of TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps to assess potential national security risks.
- In June 2021, President Joe Biden revoked the Trump-era executive orders targeting TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps but ordered a new review of the apps’ security risks.
5. Continued Uncertainty:
- Despite the Biden administration’s review, the future of the app in the United States remains uncertain.
- TikTok continues to face scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators over its data privacy practices and its ties to China.
6. User Concerns:
- The prospect of a TikTok ban has raised concerns among millions of users in the United States who rely on the app for entertainment, socialising, creative expression and for some, a source of income.
- Many users have expressed frustration and uncertainty about the app’s future and the potential loss of access to their favourite platform.
7. Potential Solutions:
- One potential solution to the ban is for TikTok to sell its US operations to a US-based company.
- In August 2020, the platform reached a deal with Oracle and Walmart to form a new company, TikTok Global, to oversee its US operations, but the deal has not been finalised.
The US ban has sparked a heated debate about national security, user data privacy, and the future of the popular social media platform. While the Biden administration has revoked the Trump-era executive orders targeting the app , it continues to face scrutiny and uncertainty in the United States. As the debate continues, users in the United States are left wondering what the future holds for their favourite app and whether they will be able to continue using it for entertainment, socialising, and creative expression.