In 2020, the Trump administration had threatened to ban TikTok in the United States if the app was not sold to a US-based company. The Trump administration had raised concerns about the app's ties to the Chinese government and alleged security risks, although TikTok had denied those allegations.
However, the situation has since evolved. In September 2020, the Trump administration had approved a deal in principle that would allow Oracle and Walmart to take a combined 20% stake in a new company called TikTok Global, which would be based in the United States. Under the deal, Byte Dance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, would retain an 80% stake.
In June 2021, the Biden administration had revoked Trump's executive orders seeking to ban TikTok and WeChat and instead issued a new executive order that directed the Commerce Department to conduct a review of apps with ties to foreign adversaries that may pose a risk to American data privacy or national security. The review is ongoing, and it is unclear whether the Biden administration will take any action against TikTok.
As of now, TikTok remains available in the United States and continues to be a popular social media app.
By James Clayton & Ben Derico
BBC News, San Francisco
The US government says TikTok should be sold or else face a possible ban in the country.
As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, there were no recent reports of the US government stating that TikTok should be sold or else face a possible ban in the country. However, as mentioned earlier, in 2020, the Trump administration had threatened to ban TikTok in the United States if the app was not sold to a US-based company. The situation has since evolved, and a deal was approved in principle that would allow Oracle and Walmart to take a combined 20% stake in a new company called TikTok Global, which would be based in the United States. Byte Dance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, would retain an 80% stake in the new company.
In June 2021, the Biden administration had revoked Trump's executive orders seeking to ban TikTok and WeChat and instead issued a new executive order that directed the Commerce Department to conduct a review of apps with ties to foreign adversaries that may pose a risk to American data privacy or national security. The review is ongoing, and it is unclear whether the Biden administration will take any action against TikTok.
Yes, TikTok has faced accusations from the US government, particularly during the Trump administration, of posing a national security risk through data gathered from millions of users. The concern is that the app, which is owned by the Chinese company Byte Dance, could potentially share user data with the Chinese government or use the data to influence US politics. TikTok has denied these allegations and stated that its US user data is stored in the United States and that it has implemented robust security measures to protect user privacy.
As I mentioned earlier, in September 2020, the Trump administration had approved a deal in principle that would allow Oracle and Walmart to take a combined 20% stake in a new company called TikTok Global, which would be based in the United States. Under the deal, Byte Dance would retain an 80% stake. This deal was seen as a way to address concerns about TikTok's national security risks while allowing the app to continue operating in the United States.
However, as of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, there were no recent reports of the US government continuing to pursue a ban or sale of TikTok due to national security concerns.
In 2020, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had reported that the US government was considering requiring ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to divest its ownership of the app due to concerns about national security risks. This was seen as a way to address concerns about the app's potential to collect and share user data with the Chinese government.
TikTok had confirmed the request for a change in ownership to BBC News. In response to these concerns, Byte Dance had explored various options to address US concerns about national security risks. As I mentioned earlier, one of these options was the deal that would allow Oracle and Walmart to take a combined 20% stake in a new company called TikTok Global, which would be based in the United States. However, as of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, there were no recent reports of the US government continuing to pursue a change in ownership of TikTok due to national security concerns.
Should we be worried about TikTok?
As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions or beliefs. However, I can provide some information on the concerns that have been raised about TikTok.
TikTok has faced scrutiny from some governments, including the United States, due to concerns about data privacy and national security risks. The concern is that the app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, could potentially share user data with the Chinese government or use the data to influence US politics.
TikTok has denied these allegations and stated that its US user data is stored in the United States and that it has implemented robust security measures to protect user privacy. In response to concerns, TikTok has also taken steps to increase transparency, including publishing a transparency report and opening a "Transparency Center" in the United States where outside experts can review its moderation and data practices.
Whether or not you should be worried about TikTok ultimately depends on your personal beliefs and level of comfort with the app's privacy practices. If you are concerned about your data privacy, you may want to take steps to protect your data when using TikTok or other social media apps, such as being cautious about the information you share online and reviewing the app's privacy settings.
TikTok under investigation by Canadian privacy authorities
As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, there were no recent reports of TikTok being investigated by Canadian privacy authorities. However, it is possible that there have been updates on this matter since then.
In July 2020, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) had announced that it was launching an investigation into TikTok's privacy practices following concerns raised by the public and media. The OPC stated that it would examine whether TikTok was in compliance with Canadian privacy laws, particularly with regards to its data collection, usage, and disclosure practices.
TikTok has stated that it takes user privacy seriously and that it would cooperate with the OPC's investigation. The investigation was ongoing as of my knowledge cutoff, and it is unclear when it will be completed or what the findings may be.
China hits out as US bans TikTok on federal devices
As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, there were no recent reports of the US banning TikTok on federal devices. However, it is possible that there have been updates on this matter since then.
In 2020, there were reports that the US Senate had unanimously approved a bill that would prohibit federal employees from downloading or using TikTok on government-issued devices due to concerns about national security risks. The bill would require federal agencies to develop policies to address the risks posed by TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps.
China had criticized the US move and accused the US of using national security as an excuse to suppress Chinese companies. The Chinese Foreign Ministry had stated that the US should provide a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies operating in the United States.
It is worth noting that the US government's concerns about TikTok's potential national security risks were primarily focused on the app's collection and sharing of user data, and not specifically on its availability on federal devices.
I apologize for any confusion, but I am not able to confirm or deny the accuracy of this statement without more specific information about the legislation that was announced. If you could provide more context or details about the legislation, I would be happy to try to provide a response.
As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, I do not have any information on recent updates to the proposed legislation known as the Restrict Act. However, the Restrict Act was a bill introduced in the US Senate in 2020 that would allow the US Commerce Department to declare foreign-owned companies as national security risks, and potentially ban them from doing business in the United States.
The proposed legislation was seen as a response to concerns about Chinese-owned tech companies, including TikTok, and their potential impact on US national security. The bill would have required companies to disclose their ownership structure and any government ties and allowed the US government to impose additional scrutiny and restrictions on companies deemed to be a national security risk.
It is worth noting that the Restrict Act was just one proposed piece of legislation, and its potential impact on TikTok or other companies would depend on its final form and whether it was ultimately passed into law.
As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, TikTok was indeed banned on government phones in the United States and some other countries.
In the US, as previously mentioned, federal employees were prohibited from downloading or using TikTok on government-issued devices due to concerns about national security risks. This ban was put in place in 2020, and it remained in effect as of my knowledge cutoff.
In Canada, a similar ban was also implemented for federal government employees in 2020, citing concerns about potential security risks related to TikTok's ownership by the Chinese company Byte Dance.
As for the European Union (EU), there was no universal ban on TikTok on government phones as of my knowledge cutoff. However, individual member states may have implemented their own policies regarding the use of TikTok or other social media apps on government devices, and it is possible that some countries within the EU have also banned TikTok on government phones.
It is worth noting that these bans on government devices do not necessarily mean that the app is banned outright in these countries for all users, but rather that it is restricted specifically on government-issued devices.
As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, there were reports that Shou Zi Chew, who was appointed as TikTok's CEO in 2021, was indeed scheduled to testify before the US Congress in a hearing focused on the app's data privacy and security practices. The hearing was scheduled for September 14, 2021, and was widely anticipated as a potentially significant moment in the ongoing debate over TikTok's relationship with the US government.
It is worth noting that the hearing was just one part of a broader effort by US lawmakers to address concerns about the potential national security risks posed by TikTok and other Chinese-owned tech companies. While some lawmakers have called for more aggressive measures to restrict TikTok's operations in the US, others have argued that the app can be safely used with appropriate safeguards in place. The outcome of the hearing and ongoing policy discussions could have significant implications for the future of TikTok's operations in the US and its relationship with the US government.
