PanamaTimes

Sunday, Dec 22, 2024

TikTok: Would the US really ban one of the world's most popular apps?

TikTok: Would the US really ban one of the world's most popular apps?

TikTok is one of the most popular apps in the US, but politicians seem willing to mandate its removal from their citizens' smartphones.
Democrats and Republicans don't agree on much these days, but have joined forces to unveil bipartisan legislation that would ban TikTok across the US.

Representatives on both sides of the political divide in the House of Representatives and Senate have spoken out against what they perceive as a threat to national security.

Those concerns were reflected in a bill unveiled by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, which would block "any social media company in, or under the influence of" China and other hostile foreign countries, including Russia.

It would put TikTok in line for an outright ban, a nuclear option attempted by former president Donald Trump over alleged links to the Chinese government.

TikTok is owned by ByteDance, which is based in Beijing.

But as one of the most popular apps in the US and the world (more than 100 million and one billion users respectively), would politicians really be willing to mandate its removal from their citizens' smartphones?

How would the US enforce a ban?

Under the measure announced by Mr Rubio, President Joe Biden could impose sanctions on TikTok and other social media companies to prevent commercial operations in the US.

With 2022 winding down, the bill likely wouldn't be introduced to Congress until next year, with its prospects in the House of Representatives boosted by Republican gains in November's midterms.

If the House passed the bill, it would then head to the Democrat-controlled Senate.

But Dr Evan Lawrence, senior lecturer in international relations, at the University of Central Lancashire, doubts the legislation would get that far.

"Technically you can [ban TikTok], but realistically it's not all that useful," she told Sky News.

"A lot of times, legislation like this is used as a negotiating tactic - it's not actually meant to really go anywhere, but instead puts it on the media and public radar, so that they have a better negotiating position."

The US government has been in talks with TikTok's parent company about regulation for some time, with a spokesperson saying they were "confident" it can "fully satisfy all reasonable US national security concerns".

What are those 'national security concerns'?

Since the end of the midterms, the anti-TikTok rhetoric has picked up, with FBI director Chris Wray warning that TikTok's US operations raise national security concerns.

Earlier this month, the state of Indiana launched a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging deception of its users about China's access to their data.

And governors in Texas, Maryland, South Dakota, and South Carolina ordered state agencies to ban TikTok on government-issued devices.

Dr Lawrence said regulation on federal devices is "not a bad thing" given concerns around foreign interference in American elections, "but whether you could do that for the public is another question".

Could an old Trump idea make a comeback?

Towards the end of his presidency, Mr Trump suggested that ByteDance sell off its American operations to a US company like Microsoft.

While Mr Biden withdrew his predecessor's order, he demanded a government review of foreign-owned apps, which remains ongoing more than a year later.

Thomas Walters, founder of global influencer agency Billion Dollar Boy, said Mr Trump's proposed sell-off was now "the most likely outcome".

"If this bill gains genuine bilateral support, then something definitely will happen," he told Sky News.

"But an outright ban like they have in India is much more unlikely.

"There's a genuine brand love for TikTok now, it's extremely well-used by younger consumers, and it's pretty well engrained with marketers too."

What has TikTok had to say?

TikTok has continued to dismiss the concerns, insisting its US operation is independent of its parent company and American user data is safe.

A spokesperson described Mr Rubio's legislation as a "politically-motivated ban that will do nothing to advance the national security of the United States".
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
A large group of unauthorized migrants is traveling through Mexico with the aim of reaching the USA before Trump assumes office.
A Democrat Congresswoman with blue and black hair is having a breakdown over "President Musk."
Argentina Defies Predictions with Record $17 Billion Trade Surplus, But Is the Growth Sustainable?
Disney's High Seas Gamble: Navigating the Waters of Cruise Expansion
The Surprising Impact of Extreme Heat on Mexico's Youth
Polarization: The Word That Unites a Divided Era
Exoneration in the Subway: The Complexities of Self-Defense and Public Safety
The Tragic Passing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Highlights Corporate Security Challenges
Global Developments: Violence in Sinaloa, Political Chaos in the Bahamas, Venezuelan Voting Disputes, and a Major UK Drug Bust
OpenAI and Anduril: Charting AI's Path in Modern Warfare
The Pardon of Hunter Biden: A Symbol of Hypocrisy
Biden Crafted the Strategy Used by Trump
South Korea's Democracy Tested: President Yoon’s Martial Law Reversal Sparks Political Reckoning
Seoul Crisis: Yoon Suk Yeol's Martial Law Blunder Triggers Political Upheaval
Generative AI's Limited Impact on Elections Highlighted by Meta
France at the Precipice: Barnier’s Administration Confronts Unprecedented No-Confidence Vote
Jaguar Unveils Electric Concept Car, Type 00
White House Defends Presidential Pardon of Hunter Biden
xAI by Elon Musk: Transforming Ambition with a $50 Billion Valuation
President-elect Donald Trump, has announced on Truth Social that Kashyap "Kash" Patel, will be the next Director of the FBI
A Historic Milestone or Risky Precedent? The Assisted Dying Bill Splits both Parliament and the Nation in England and Wales
Trump's Tariff Threat Looms Large as Trudeau Heads to Mar-a-Lago for Talks
Canada's Oil Industry Faces Uncertainty Amidst Trump's Tariff Threat
World Court to Assess Global Legal Responsibilities on Climate Change
What the Pink Elephant Test Reveals About Thought Control
Trudeau Visits Trump in Florida Amid Rising Tariff Concerns
Is Elon Musk the Unofficial President of America?
Impact of Proposed US Tariffs on Canadian Oil Exports
U.S. policymakers face a contentious debate over whether to engage with Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela.
COP29's Carbon Trading Deal Faces Major Criticisms
Indian Diplomats in Canada Monitored: Government Raises Alarm
Putin Warns Trump of Ongoing Safety Concerns
Claudia Sheinbaum Challenges Trump's Migration Claims
Insights from Dostoevsky: The Impact of Self-Deception
Trump Administration Nominees Face Threats, FBI Confirms
Elon Musk Criticizes Fighter Jets, Advocates for Drone Warfare
Kim Kardashian's Social Media Activity Fuels Political Speculation
An Examination of AI's Influence on Future Work and Life
Tulsi Gabbard's Contentious Nomination for Director of National Intelligence
$100,000 Trump Watch Faces Slow Sales
Surge in Golden Visa Interest Among Americans Post-Trump Election
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Aim to Reduce US Federal Spending
Donald Trump nominated Linda McMahon for the position of Secretary of Education.
Russia Pledges Response Following Ukraine's Use of US Long-Range Missiles
Joe Biden Joins G20 Leaders' Photo Re-Take in Rio
Trump Plans to Reverse Biden's Fuel and EV Regulations
WHO Approves Second Vaccine for Mpox Emergency Use
Donald Trump's Unnamed Presence Looms Over G20 Summit
Trump Media and Technology Group's Shares Surge Amid Crypto Exchange Acquisition Talks
The Rising Menace of AI-Generated Deepfake Pornography
×