The issue of TikTok’s potential links to the Chinese government has led to calls for the app to be banned, including in the UK, where government officials have been urged to prohibit its use on official devices in line with moves by the EU and US.
There are growing concerns over China’s cybersecurity and data accessibility, leading to directives for officials in Europe and the US to limit their use of the Chinese-owned social video app.
The situation escalated after EU officials ordered their government employees to remove the app from their devices, and 26 US states have banned it from government phones. The US government is still assessing the safety risks of the app, and there is mounting pressure to ban it completely.
Rumors surrounding China’s possible intervention in the Ukraine conflict have further weakened TikTok’s case, with some suggesting that the CCP is set to offer assistance to Russian forces. Meanwhile, there is no official confirmation of this, and the tensions between the US and China are increasing, which could lead to further conflict.
The problem is that TikTok is technically bound by Chinese cybersecurity regulations to share user information with the Chinese government. While much of the information that could be gleaned from TikTok may be relatively harmless, ByteDance, the app’s owner, has already shown how its tracking data can be used to spy on US journalists. Given these concerns, security officials are raising the alarm for government employees to avoid exposing themselves to such risks.
The question is whether this concern will spread to the public and the perceived risk of data sharing with the CCP. US assessors are working to establish this, and if the White House decides to ban the app, other western nations will likely follow suit. Otherwise, TikTok may have to be sold to a local entity, or the app could disappear altogether.
Despite the potential revenue at stake, it is becoming increasingly likely that TikTok will face a ban or be sold off due to its perceived security risks. It is better to be safe than an excuse, and users’ and data safety should be paramount.
About TikTok
TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short-form videos. As of 2022, the app has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, making it one of the most widely used social media platforms. Additionally, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, reported that TikTok’s worth is $4.6 billion, demonstrating the app’s significant financial success.
