In recent news, there has been a growing concern over the use of TikTok, a social media platform owned by the Chinese Tech Giant, ByteDance. The Biden Administration has given federal agencies 30 days to remove TikTok from all government-issued devices, citing security concerns. The European Union Commission and the Canadian government have also introduced a similar ban for their staff. The move has sparked an angry reaction from China, accusing the US of overstretching the concept of National Security.
The complex relationship between ByteDance and the Chinese government has raised concerns that TikTok could be used for spying or propaganda by the Chinese Communist Party. Although ByteDance has always maintained that it does not share user data with Beijing, China enacted a very strict national security law in 2017 that requires all internet companies in China to share data deemed important for National Security. It is unclear how much information ByteDance may have shared with Beijing, but it is known that Tech Giants in China are increasingly brought under Beijing’s control.
TikTok’s innocence has been maintained by ByteDance, and the company has fought back against the idea that it is under Beijing’s thumb. It has moved the information of its US users to servers in the United States maintained by Oracle, a US company. It has even opened a center in the United States where researchers can apply to go and look at the TikTok algorithm to see for themselves. TikTok is separate in the United States, according to ByteDance, which is fighting against allegations that it is trying to share user information.
However, concerns about TikTok go beyond data sharing. TikTok is not doing enough to counter disinformation outside of China, and this is a concern. Two-thirds of US teenagers use TikTok, and they increasingly get their news from the app. There has been little said by ByteDance or TikTok about how they are countering disinformation.
TikTok is banned in China, and a censored version, called Douyin, is used inside the country. Social media is heavily censored inside China, and Chinese versions of apps like Twitter and Facebook are not allowed. Instead, Chinese-made apps that do similar things are heavily controlled by the Chinese authorities.
The ban of TikTok on government-issued devices is a necessary step in the interest of National Security. With concerns about data sharing and disinformation, it is crucial to take action to protect the public from potential threats. The ban is not just limited to the US but has also been implemented by the European Union Commission and the Canadian government. As technology continues to advance, National Security concerns will become increasingly important, and more measures will need to be taken to ensure the safety of the public.
In conclusion, the ban of TikTok on government-issued devices is a significant step in protecting National Security. The complex relationship between ByteDance and the Chinese government has raised concerns that TikTok could be used for spying or propaganda by the Chinese Communist Party. While ByteDance maintains TikTok’s innocence, concerns about data sharing and disinformation are valid. TikTok is banned in China, and a censored version, called Douyin, is used inside the country. As technology continues to advance, National Security concerns will become increasingly important, and more measures will need to be taken to ensure the safety of the public.
Any personal use apps shouldn’t be on govt issued phones, same for any enterprise issued phones. If people want their TikTok, Facebook, or whatever, they should only be using it on devices that are their own personal property.
It is important to note that virtually all social media platforms engage in data collection and analysis, to the extent that they often maintain extensive databases on each user. This data can be utilized to subtly influence user behavior through the use of smart, incremental propaganda tactics.
TikTok is not the only enemy of people’s privacy, it’s every social media app you installed in your phone.
I can’t say I blame them for wanting it banned. Having social media apps on a federal device can be dangerous, as the apps could be used by hackers against people who aren’t careful to steal information from the device. If they had a personal laptop or phone separate from their work devices with these apps, it’d be okay.