TikTok Getting Banned?

Good Morning!

There seems to be one thing Dems and Republicans can agree on... And that’s banning TikTok.

Well at least getting the company out of China’s control.

Shortly after TikTok’s viral adoption here in the states, data privacy concerns quickly formed and began to swirl through Congress. Let me give a little background on Bytedance (TikTok’s parent company) and why the US Government is so concerned.

Bytedance, founded in 2012, is a Chinese based company that started out as a news aggregator app called Toutiao, which uses AI algorithms to personalize news feeds for users. In 2016 Bytedance created Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and it was wildly successful. The following year the company created the app we know as TikTok, a tailored version poised to launch internationally. And like its Chinese predecessor, TikTok went viral and grew massively popular.

I bet you’re asking, “what’s the deal? What’s the problem with another viral app?”

Well, lets take a look at some Chinese laws around data :

1. National Intelligence Law: China's National Intelligence Law, enacted in 2017, requires organizations and individuals to cooperate with Chinese intelligence efforts if requested. This law has raised concerns that Chinese companies, including ByteDance, could be compelled to hand over user data or assist in espionage activities if directed by the Chinese government.

2. Content Censorship: The Chinese government tightly controls online content through laws and regulations aimed at regulating speech and preventing the dissemination of politically sensitive or socially destabilizing information. Internet companies like ByteDance are required to censor content that is deemed to violate these regulations, including political dissent, criticism of the government, or discussion of topics deemed sensitive, such as Tibet, Taiwan, and the Tiananmen Square protests.

3. Data Localization: Chinese regulations mandate that certain types of data collected by companies operating in China, particularly personal data, must be stored on servers located within China's borders. This requirement is intended to facilitate government access to data and enhance control over information flows.

So, as you can see, the concerns around user data collection are not unfounded. Bytedance has stated on multiple occasions that TikTok data is not stored in China, so the laws don’t apply to the company. These assurances haven’t satisfied the U.S. Government. Hence Congress signing the Bill to force Bytedance to divest TikTok or face being banned in the States.

Now on the other side of this are concerns of government over reach. Will the government find reasons to block or ban other apps for “National Security”?

It seems that just about every search engine, device and Government is collecting logs and building a profile on you. The need for data privacy protections is at an all time high. The first line of defense is knowledge, and that’s what we’re here to provide you.

Keeping you informed, so you Don’t Get Got

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