Whether or not you are a TikTok fan, you have probably heard about a US ban on the video site. This is the result of a proposed bill that would be passed in the United States Congress, and if it is enacted, it could completely shut down the site across the country.
Bipartisan legislation would ban TikTok across the US
Several lawmakers are introducing bipartisan legislation that would ban TikTok across the United States. These lawmakers say that the app has links to the Chinese government and could be used by foreign adversaries to spy on Americans.
The bill was introduced by a Republican congressman, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, and Democratic congressman, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois. According to the press release, the proposed legislation is designed to protect the US from foreign adversaries who may use social media to spread their messages, influence elections, or surveil citizens. The bill would also block any social media transaction that is associated with a country of concern. Those nations include Iran, Russia, North Korea, and Cuba.
According to BuzzFeed News, TikTok is a video-sharing social networking application based in China. The company says that it has more than 100 million users in the U.S. It also collects troves of user data. It has been under intense scrutiny since the app’s pandemic in the U.S. It has faced criticism for harvesting too much user data and for sending European users’ information to China.
The FBI director warned against using TikTok, stating that it could be used by the Chinese government to collect data on millions of U.S. citizens. The Department of Homeland Security has also imposed a ban on the app’s use on devices controlled by the US government.
Several states have already enacted state-level restrictions on the use of TikTok on state-issued computers and other devices. The state of Texas has banned the use of the app in government agencies, while Maryland and South Dakota have enacted similar policies. The US military has restricted the use of the app on devices controlled by the Department of Defense and the State Department.
The Biden administration has expressed concerns about TikTok, and the House of Representatives is considering a bill to prevent the social networking company from operating in the U.S. The bill, which is co-sponsored by Republican congressman, Mike Gallagher, and Democratic congressman, Raja Krishnamoorthi, has not yet been voted on in the House. It is not expected to pass this year, but it may be reintroduced next year under a Republican majority.
ByteDance denies that it is shared with the Chinese government
During a Senate hearing in September, TikTok Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas denied that the company shares user data with the Chinese government. Instead, she said the company has set up its internal systems to allow the flow of data between US and China. However, there are several concerns that have been raised about TikTok and its links with the Chinese government.
The Chinese government has long exercised extreme social media censorship. This includes requiring entrepreneur bosses to support the party line. ByteDance, the parent company of the popular short video app, has not been criticized for its role in the country’s censorship.
In a BuzzFeed News report, the company says its engineers and employees in China have accessed non-public data on U.S. citizens without an employment relationship. The engineers were referred to as’master admins’. This sounds a bit different from earlier statements, and it appears that more of the ByteDance employees accessed data in the past year than they had previously.
During a September meeting with the US-based staff, one manager referred to the Beijing-based engineer as a’master admin’. This implies that the engineer has access to user data even though he is not an employee.
According to a BuzzFeed report, ByteDance executives have access to data on Americans. They have also planned to conduct surveillance on Americans. Although Forbes did not reveal what the surveillance was for, it appears that the company is planning to monitor the movements of Americans.
In addition to the concerns about ByteDance’s relationship with the Chinese government, there are also concerns about its data collection on American users. The company has set up an internal audit team to investigate employee practices. These investigations primarily focus on current employees, but the company has also been investigated for potential abuse of company resources. In the past, the team has been called to investigate former employees as well.
These issues have also been raised in Australia and the UK. Some Senators have questioned whether TikTok is censoring content. They have also warned against the app. Some Conservatives have called for a ban.
Microsoft and Oracle are interested in buying TikTok
Earlier this year, Microsoft and Oracle were in talks to buy the US operations of social media platform TikTok. Eventually, the Chinese company ByteDance rejected Microsoft’s bid and instead selected Oracle.
In August, Oracle announced plans to purchase some of the US assets of TikTok. Specifically, Oracle will acquire TikTok’s US technology. However, it is unclear whether Oracle will also buy the company’s US operations.
One reason why Oracle may be interested in buying TikTok is to expand its enterprise software business. The tech giant already has its cloud infrastructure in place for video platforms. This will allow Oracle to capitalize on TikTok’s popularity among younger consumers and potentially grow its advertising business. But it might be harder to convince a potential partner that Oracle can actually run the U.S. operation of TikTok effectively.
Oracle’s CEO Larry Ellison has been very supportive of President Donald Trump. He even hosted a fundraiser for the president this year. He has a long history of doing business with the federal government and has been known to frequent the White House. This might be a way for the tech giant to show off its ties to the administration.
Another reason why Oracle might be interested in buying TikTok is because the tech giant has long struggled to find new growth avenues. The company has been primarily focused on enterprise software, but has recently sought to get into the social media market.
The US has been at war with China since the 1970s, but tensions have been on the rise in recent years. The government has targeted several Chinese companies, accusing them of threatening national security. If the government starts taking action against Apple, Google, and TikTok, it could hurt those companies.
But it’s possible that the United States and China aren’t the only countries who will be impacted. In addition to the TikTok deal, the US government has been targeting Chinese tech company Huawei, claiming that the company’s alleged ties to the Chinese government pose a national security risk. The Chinese government also has restricted AI technologies.