TikTok, a short video application owned by ByteDance, is used by around 150 million people in the United States. However, recently, there have been worries about this Chinese app in the US. New York City has chosen to prevent the use of TikTok on devices within the city and has directed agencies to uninstall the app within 30 days. This step is being taken to prevent possible security risks originating from China.
Back in March, Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, also had a chance to talk to the US Congress and clear up the accusations. He mentioned that he gets the worries that come from the mistaken idea that TikTok’s setup ties it to the Chinese government or that it gives information about US users to China. He also emphasized that there’s no doubt about it: ByteDance is not acting as a representative of China or any other nation.
It is noteworthy to know that New York City is not the first city to initiate the ban. In May, the state of Montana decided to ban the use of the app starting from next year. The reason they gave was that Montana lawmakers believe TikTok could create security problems because its parent company, ByteDance, is linked to China. They believe that these links could pose a national security threat. Now, following that lead, New York City is doing something similar, although it’s mostly for government workers.
However, at that time, TikTok pushed back against the allegations with a lawsuit aimed at securing its position among the citizens of Montana.
The bans in various countries, including the U.S., are based on general worries about the security of TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance. Even though there’s no proof so far that China has used the extremely popular social app for spying, there’s still a possibility of that happening.
While the company has attempted to convince U.S. lawmakers about its safety measures, the lack of trust stems from the company’s previous mistake. Last year, TikTok admitted that ByteDance staff used the app to monitor journalists’ IP addresses, aiming to prevent internal leaks. Due to this information, four employees were let go, this incident remains a stain on the company’s reputation as it strives to establish credibility with international regulators.
TikTok continues to be banned in India, limiting Indian users to certain choices. Meta took that opportunity of the ban and launched Reels in 2020. Furthermore, other platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter), YouTube, and Facebook have also launched their short video feature, hindering the need for TikTok in the country.
