President Donald Trump and the US government are pushing for a TikTok ban for national security reasons.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, and the main concern is access to US user data by this foreign government.
TikTok is already banned in countries like India and Afghanistan due to privacy and content concerns.
Concern about TikTok as a Chinese-owned platform has intensified since 2020, with the US government taking action starting in 2024 and 2025. The US government moved from restring TikTok on government devices to passing legislation that could force its sale or ban it nationwide due to national security concerns.
“Tiktok ‘s data collection practices, combined with its chinese ownership, have fueled fears that the platform could be used to harvest personal data or spread propaganda at the behest of the chinese government”- Brookings institution
The TikTok ban addresses national security risks because the app collects large amount of personal data, which could be accessed by the chinese government. It also raises fears about TikTok power to influence public opinion through its algorithm, affecting politics, elections, and social behavior.
The TikTok loss would affect millions of users and content creators who depend on the platform to express themselves, create and generate income.
This quote shows the emotional and personal impact TikTok has on its users. It underscores the time and effort that creators put into their content, which would be lost if TikTok is banned. The US postponed tik tok forced sale until after the 2024 elections. Many believe businessmen like Mr Beast or Elon Musk could buy it, though some fear a sale would change how TikTok works.
