Washington calls for secession
US threatens Tiktok with nationwide ban
03/16/2023, 5:35 am
The Chinese network Tiktok is particularly popular with young people. In the US, however, the video platform is viewed critically. Washington demands the separation of the app from the parent company ByteDance. Otherwise, the app would have to reckon with a ban.
The government in Washington is threatening Tiktok with a possible ban in the USA if the video platform, which is particularly popular with young people, is not split off from the Chinese mother company ByteDance. The US government has urged Tiktok’s Chinese owners to sell their stakes in the app or face a possible ban in the US, the company said on Wednesday. The US President’s Office declined to comment.
Tiktok CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to appear before the US Congress next week. According to a media report, the company is considering divesting ByteDance as a last resort to allay US security concerns. ByteDance confirmed that 60 percent of the shares are owned by global investors, 20 percent are owned by employees and 20 percent are owned by the founders. Because of the proximity of Tiktok and the mother ByteDance to the Chinese government, security authorities fear that the People’s Republic will tap personal user data or misuse it to manipulate public opinion.
Tiktok and US authorities have been negotiating for years
Tiktok and the Chinese government have denied the allegations. “If protecting national security is the goal, divestment does not solve the problem: a change in ownership would not impose new restrictions on data flow or access,” a Tiktok spokeswoman said. The best way to address national security concerns is transparent, US-based protection of US user data and systems with reliable third-party verification.
US authorities and Tiktok have been negotiating data security requirements for more than two years. It’s not clear if the Chinese government would approve a sale. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A ban in the USA would entail considerable legal hurdles. Former US President Donald Trump’s attempt to ban Tiktok during his term in office failed in the US courts.