TikTok Ban: A Political Smokescreen or Real Security Threat?
TikTok, a popular video-sharing app, has faced scrutiny over its data privacy practices due to its Chinese tech company Byte Dance ownership. The concerns primarily centre around the app’s collection and handling of user data. One concern is that more user data might be getting collected by TikTok, including device information, location data, and browsing history. Additionally, there have been allegations that TikTok shares user data with the Chinese government, which has raised concerns about national security and potential censorship.
Furthermore, there have been reports of TikTok’s potential involvement in censoring content that is critical of the Chinese government or addresses sensitive topics such as human rights abuses in China. This has led to concerns about freedom of expression and the app’s potential impact on democratic values.
TikTok has tried to increase transparency and improve its data privacy practices to address these concerns. For example, the app has published a transparency report detailing how it handles user data and has implemented various privacy settings and controls for users. However, despite these efforts, the app faces scrutiny and calls for increased regulation to protect user data and privacy.
As the controversy surrounding TikTok continues, the app’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, appeared before the U.S. Congress to explain the app’s data privacy and security practices. The hearing was held at the House of Representatives, where the CEO of TikTok was asked to testify before the Energy and Commerce Committee. The lawmakers yelled at him, and the hearing became a spectacle where they talked about banning TikTok for four and a half hours. The momentum around banning TikTok is at an all-time high, and many TikTokers in D.C. are concerned about this. However, the hearing was possibly the worst faith Tech hearing ever held.
The lawmakers seemed interested in something other than the CEO’s answers and spoke over him often. The Chairwoman, Kathy McMorris Rogers, stated in her opening statement that the app should be banned, and it became clear that many lawmakers had already decided about TikTok’s future. Although many big tech companies’ CEOs have been forced to endure similar spectacles, this hearing was meaningfully different.
The lawmakers asked several questions about Tick Tock’s privacy and security concerns. Some questions could have been more concise, such as whether Tick Tock accessed the user’s WiFi network. In reality, the data on the user’s phone is more significant than anything else on their WiFi network. If policymakers focus on more critical issues, it could help develop a robust privacy framework for the country. Instead of banning Tick Tock or other services, lawmakers need a more comprehensive approach to address privacy and security concerns.
The political landscape in the U.S. has seen a shift towards a 24-month cycle rather than the traditional 11 or 6-month cycle. In 2018, Trump issued executive orders to ban Tick Tock, citing security concerns. However, these orders were ultimately overruled. Currently, Biden is facing an anti-China sentiment among Republicans when preparing for re-election. This is a politically sensitive time, and the Republicans’ focus on China makes it a central topic of discussion.
Banning other companies or services, such as Google, is not considered an option. The ban on Tick Tock is more accessible to justify due to the prevailing anti-China sentiment. However, this approach needs to pay more attention to the nuances of a responsible privacy framework for the country, a complex question requiring thorough consideration. Blaming everything on the giant “Boogeyman” that is China makes it easy to take action against Tick Tock, but it is not necessarily the best approach.
While the personal opinion on whether or not TikTok should be banned may differ, many can agree that as a massive company, TikTok has underlying issues with the application and its users. The algorithm used by TikTok is known to be robust and can send specific users down pipelines that may be considered racist or bigoted. This is a dangerous aspect of the application. However, how different is TikTok from other social media apps? The answer is not much, but before we dive into that, some Shady Investments and insider trading make U.S. government officials as corrupt as they are.
In the last few days, this hearing has gained much attention, and people have noticed how unfit representatives are to answer questions about modern technology. We are discussing banning an application millions Americans use for entertainment, business, and connecting with friends. However, the people who get to decide need to understand how the technology works. A clip from Representative Carter from Georgia spoke about “deadly TikTok challenges” and how the older generation does not understand how extraordinary those challenges are.
The congressperson asks whether TikTok uses the phone’s camera to determine whether the algorithm should amplify the content that elicits pupil dilation. This question might need to be clarified to anyone who understands how technology and A.I. work. The question is whether TikTok can see when your pupils dilate while watching a TikTok video so that they can feed more content that dilates pupils. It may indicate that you enjoy it or are getting a dopamine rush from the range. Overall, the hearing has highlighted the gap between government officials and their understanding of modern technology, which is a cause for concern.
The CEO of TikTok was even questioned by representatives regarding concerns about the app’s data privacy and connections to China. One representative asked about the CEO’s boss, Mr Zhang Fuping, who is not the CEO nor someone with whom the CEO has frequent contact. The congresswoman also questioned whether TikTok and Byte Dance share legal teams, which the CEO confirmed.
Another representative questioned whether Byte Dance, TikTok’s parent company, currently has access to user data. The CEO confirmed that they do but clarified that this access is only granted after going through a specific process. Many representatives, however, seemed more focused on the fact that a Chinese company owns TikTok and therefore believed that the app is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They expressed concerns that the CCP would access user data and use it for malicious purposes.
However, this argument ignores that TikTok’s data is stored in the U.S. and is subject to U.S. laws and regulations. Furthermore, TikTok has repeatedly stated that it operates independently of its Chinese parent company and that the CCP does not influence its algorithms. The focus on TikTok’s Chinese ownership is part of a more significant trend of anti-China sentiment in the U.S., where Chinese companies and individuals are often viewed with suspicion.
One representative, Dan Crenshaw, repeatedly asserted that the CCP controls TikTok due to a Chinese law that requires individuals to surrender information if the government requests it. However, this argument needs to be revised, as it ignores that TikTok’s data is stored in the U.S., and there is no evidence that the CCP has access to it. The focus on TikTok’s Chinese ownership also overlooks that many US-based companies, such as Facebook, collect and use user data, often with little oversight or regulation.
During the hearing about TikTok’s data privacy and connections to China, the concerns raised by representatives were valid, but the focus on TikTok’s Chinese ownership was misplaced. TikTok has repeatedly stated that it operates independently of its Chinese parent company, and its data is subject to U.S. laws and regulations. The focus on TikTok’s Chinese ownership is part of a more significant trend of anti-China sentiment in the U.S. It overlooks that many US-based companies also collect and use user data without proper oversight or regulation.
The ban has caused a stir on social media, with many people weighing in on whether it was necessary or just a political stunt. Others saw the apps owned by China as an attempt by the government to stifle free speech and control news coverage. In the meantime, TikTok influencers had to scramble for new ways to connect with their followers. A few have moved to other social media platforms, while a few have built proprietary applications to keep producing content. As months passed, it became clear that the ban was not just TikTok. Other Chinese-owned apps, including WeChat and Tencent, were also being targeted. It was obvious that this was not merely a political gimmick. With both countries imposing new restrictions on each other’s tech companies, tensions between the U.S. and China continued to escalate. The tech sector has become the battlefield in the ongoing trade war.
The tech industry’s future seemed uncertain as the situation became more complicated. Either a new era of protectionism and economic nationalism was ushered in, or cooler heads prevailed, and a deal was struck. Despite the uncertainty, some tech giants saw an opportunity in the chaos. Facebook launched its competitor, ‘Reels’, which soon became popular with users seeking a similar experience. Twitter also announced its release, named ‘Fleets’.
These American-owned platforms’ privacy and security concerns began to surface as the new apps gained traction. Many users wondered if banning Chinese-owned apps was distracting from the weaknesses of their technology. The debate raged, with some claiming that the trade war was necessary to protect American jobs and industries. In contrast, others argued that cooperation and diplomacy were the keys to solving the conflict.
As the year ended, a new administration took office, promising a fresh approach to foreign policy. While the tech sector’s future remains uncertain, the new leadership has raised hopes of finding a way to balance national interests with global collaboration.
Meanwhile, local TikTok influencers, most affected by this ban, felt cheated by their government. Left with an uncertain future, they had built their careers on the platform. Some had lost sponsorship. Others faced financial ruin. One group of determined influencers decided to take matters into their own hands. They formed a coalition and began to lobby the government to lift the ban. They used social media to raise awareness of their cause and organized protests outside government buildings.
This platform allows users to upload short videos under 30 seconds. The content of the videos varies depending on the user’s location. Educational content is prevalent in China, where TikTok operates under a different name. The Chinese government believes that teaching kids about hard work, creativity, personal responsibility, and respect for authority is necessary for building a productive society.
In contrast, TikTok in the U.S. has videos about gender identity and twerking, which do not positively influence American society. Critics of TikTok have been accused of racism for raising questions about the platform, and the news consumers receive is sponsored by TikTok. Consequently, politicians on both sides have introduced the Restrict Act to ban TikTok due to concerns about election interference and national security. However, Tucker Carlson argues that the bill’s provisions could result in the federal government gaining new powers to punish American citizens and regulate how they communicate with one another. Therefore, he suggests that the bill is not about banning TikTok but rather about giving new powers to the government.
