By Devin Versteegen
RALEIGH – Amidst growing concerns over data privacy, the looming threat of a TikTok ban raises questions about censorship and innovation in the digital age. As concerns over data privacy amongst millions of Tik Tok users escalate, policymakers are grappling with the decision of whether to ban TikTok amidst allegations of data collection practices and national security risks.
With the U.S. House passed bill 352-65 in early Mar., the bill effectively gives the app Tik Tok 180 days to part from Chinese based ByteDance or Tik Tok will be banned from the United States (U.S.) digital market. This bill is now headed to the Senate for a vote.
As of Apr. 23 the senate passed the bill banning tik tok and on Apr. 24 President Joe Biden sign the bill into law. The ban will not take place until 2025.
The prospect of such a ban has sparked a heated debate, with proponents arguing for stricter regulations to protect user data and national security, while opponents raise concerns about censorship, innovation, and the potential stifling of free speech in the digital sphere
“The ban doesn’t really matter to me, I don’t see a difference since we have [Instagram] reels, I bet you there will be another app that gets released for the U.S. market because people will still make their money,I think there should be more control over what data they have access to because sometimes I open the app I see ads that are showing what I was just talking about” said Gabriel Wallace, Shaw University student.
25% of Tik Tok’s users are 10-19 years-old according to a report by Brian Dean, which has led many to feel concerned about data privacy amongst minors.
Many of these younger kids spending hours on Tik Tok consuming content along with allowing Tik Tok to record their data consumption habits has many officials worried. Tik Tok being based in China, who isn’t an ally of the U.S. government, has very in depth access to user information.
The addition of the Tik Tok shop where users can buy items at a heavily discounted price has many, like myself, worried about what might be happening with our credit card information. To open a Tik Tok shop account users have to input their full social security number which is very concerning.
There isn’t any other social media platform that requires its users to input their social security number into it in order to access features. Competitive platforms like Instagram reels and Instagram shop do not require such information all while being U.S. based.
“[TikTok] is a Trojan horse to put China in your bedroom, your backyard, and take your data and target your kids and undermine our national security,” said Rep. Chip Roy in a X post formally known as a tweet
Roy argued in early March in favor of the Tik Tok ban. Other representatives raised concerns about the TikTok ban bill, emphasizing its potential for governmental overreach and its implications for internet freedom. He argued against granting the President excessive authority over Americans’ online activities, echoing broader concerns about the balance between national security and civil liberties in the digital age.
“Today I claimed 20 minutes in opposition to the TikTok ban bill, and yielded time to several like minded colleagues. This bill gives the President far too much authority to determine what Americans can see and do on the internet. This is my closing statement, before I voted No.” said Rep. Thomas Massie, Kentucky House Representative.
The minority of House of Representatives who voted against the bill felt it overstepped the free will of citizens in the U.S. Some called for a restriction to the access Tik Tok asks for similar to Huawei’s smartphone offerings in the U.S. market.
In contrast to the fear of overstepping domestic powers, in early 2023, Tik Tok claimed the company doesn’t share U.S. data with the Chinese government. Tik Tok also claimed to have spent $1.5 billion on a project that entailed an in-depth data security effort with hopes of further proving they don’t share U.S. data.
“Our app is a place where people can be creative and curious, and a place where 5 million American businesses, mostly small businesses, go to find new customers and to fuel their growth. As Tik Tok has grown we have tried to learn the lessons of companies that have come before us especially when it comes to the safety of teenagers… we spent a lot of time adopting measures to protect teenagers,” said CEO Shou Zi Chew in a testimony in March 2023 by the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.
Tik Tok CEO Chew spoke with a tone of genuine concern in his testimony in early 2023, I feel his intentions are in the right place, similar to many other social media users commenting on clips of the testimony stream on different social media platforms.
The main concern isn’t the leadership of Tik Tok but the association with the company ByteDance.
If Tik Tk doesn’t part from their Chinese based partner within the next 180 days. Tik Tok will join other U.S. domestic market banned Chinese-owned apps like WeChat and versions of Telegram. Another ByteDance owned app CapCut may also be included in the bill. CapCut often works in conjunction with Tik Tok as its video editor application.