The social media app TikTok known for its short videos, has been a subject of controversy for months due to security concerns.
The app has accused of collecting user data and sharing it with the Chinese government. In response, the US government has taken several actions, including issuing an executive order to ban app.
In the latest development, federal agencies have given 30 days to ban TikTok. This article will explore the security threats posed by TikTok, the US government’s response, and the implications of the 30-day deadline.
Data Collection
One of the main concerns about TikTok is its data collection practices. The app collects vast amounts of user data, including location data, IP addresses, and device information.
This data is then shared with ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, which could potentially use it for nefarious purposes. Some experts have warned that this data could used to create profiles of US citizens, which could then used for intelligence gathering purposes.
Tiktok owned by Chinese Company
Another concern is the fact that TikTok is owned by a Chinese company. This has raised questions about whether the Chinese government has access to user data. TikTok has denied that it shares data with the Chinese government, but many people remain skeptical.
In August 2020, President Trump issued an executive order to ban TikTok in the US, citing national security concerns. The order gave ByteDance 90 days to divest from its US operations. However, the ban put on hold following legal challenges.
Several lawsuits were filed against the executive order, with TikTok arguing that the ban violated the company’s constitutional rights. In December 2020, a federal judge issued an injunction against the ban, citing concerns about free speech. The Trump administration appealed the ruling, but the appeal dropped after President Biden took office.
In January 2021, the US Department of Commerce issued a list of prohibited transactions with TikTok and WeChat, another Chinese-owned app. The list included bans on the distribution of the apps through US app stores and on providing internet hosting services for the apps. However, the bans put on hold after legal challenges.
Biden Administration
In early March 2021, the Biden administration withdrew the list of prohibited transactions and replaced it with a new executive order. The new order directs federal agencies to conduct a review of apps with ties to foreign adversaries and take action to protect US data. The order gives federal agencies 30 days to identify and remove apps that pose a security threat.
The 30-day deadline has raised concerns about the future of TikTok in the US. If federal agencies determine that TikTok poses a security threat, they could order US companies to stop doing business with TikTok, effectively banning the app in the US. This could have significant implications for TikTok’s millions of US users, as well as for ByteDance, which could lose access to one of its largest markets.
