Why the United States bans public employees from using TikTok

The White House has given US federal agencies 30 days to remove the popular Chinese social media app TikTok from all government mobile devices amid growing security concerns. Canada announced a similar ban.

Congress, the White House itself and more than half of US states had already banned TikTok amid fears that Beijing could use its legal and regulatory powers to obtain users’ private data or to try to promote misinformation or abuse. pro-China narratives.

The US military banned the app on military devices, and the executive branch of the European Union temporarily banned TikTok on its employees’ phones.

More than two-thirds of American teenagers use TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020. It has been the target of criticism that alleges the Chinese government could access user data, such as than their navigation. history and location.

China says the bans reveal Washington’s own insecurities and represent an abuse of state power.

Here is an overview of what is known:

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT TIKTOK?

The FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned that ByteDance could share TikTok user data with China’s authoritarian government.

There are also concerns that the company is sending large amounts of user data to China, in violation of strict European privacy regulations.

Additionally, there have been concerns about the content itself transmitted through TikTok, for example that it harms the mental health of teenagers.

WHO DID THE RESTRICTIONS ON TIKTOK?

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump and his administration tried to ban all transactions with the company that owns TikTok, force it to sell its US assets and remove it from app stores. Courts blocked Trump’s efforts to ban TikTok, and President Joe Biden overruled Trump’s orders after taking office but ordered a full review of the matter. The planned sale of TikTok’s US assets has been put on hold.

In the US Congress, both sides have expressed concern about enforcement. Congress passed the “TikTok Zero Law on Government Devices” in December as part of a sweeping government funding package. The law allows TikTok to be used in certain circumstances, including for national security, law enforcement, and investigative purposes.

House Republicans are expected to pass a bill on Tuesday that would give Biden the power to ban TikTok across the United States. The bill, proposed by Rep. Mike McCaul, aims to avoid the challenges the federal government would face in court if it proceeds with sanctions against the social media company.

WHAT DOES TIKTOK SAY?

TikTok has challenged the bans, saying it hasn’t had a chance to answer questions and governments are opting out of a platform loved by millions.

Responding to the US announcement, TikTok spokeswoman Brooke Oberwetter said on Monday: “The ban on TikTok on federal devices was passed in December without any deliberation, and unfortunately that position served as a guide to other governments around the world.. These restrictions are little more than politicking.