President Joe Biden has put his signature on a measure that puts TikTok, a widely used social media app, at risk of a U.S. ban, BBC reported. The legislation, which could force the app's Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest or face a ban within nine months, has raised significant concerns over user data privacy and national security.
The law, inserted into a bill that includes aid packages for Ukraine and Israel, indicates the latest move in a longstanding tussle with the video-sharing platform that's a hit with younger audiences. In a defiant statement TikTok said, "We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail," as reported by the BBC. The app alleges that the block would "silence 170 million Americans" and impact millions of businesses that leverage its platform.
The scrutiny over TikTok has intensified due to fears that ByteDance could share TikTokers' personal data, including location and browsing history, with the Chinese government as asserted by the FBI and FCC, according to Fox10 Phoenix. While opponents of the ban argue that China could employ other methods to obtain American's data, Senator Marco Rubio expressed satisfaction with the bill's passage, stating, "For years we've allowed the Chinese Communist party to control one of the most popular apps in America that was dangerously short-sighted."
Despite the looming threat of a ban, TikTok has been active on the defensive front, reportedly spending over $5 million on TV ads to oppose the legislation and trumpeting its investments in data security. "The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation," TikTok emphasized, as Fox10 Phoenix has stated. Several states, including Arizona, have already mandated the removal of TikTok from state-leased devices, reflecting the growing apprehension about the platform's ties to China.
The debate surrounding TikTok continues as the public remains divided. Data from an AP-NORC poll indicates a near-even split in opinion among U.S. adults, with 31% favoring a ban and 35% opposing it. Legal experts predict a protracted legal battle, and with TikTok's immense popularity, especially among the young, the discussion around freedom of speech and expression is likely to take center stage. TikTok's adamant stance and the anticipated legal challenges ensure that this issue remains squarely in the public eye for the foreseeable future.
