As Tiktok ontinues to gain a wide range of popularity, the U.S. is increasingly questioning the legality of TikTok as it continues to thrive in the social media space. Thus, many Americans have begun to question whether TikTok might actually be shut down due to the rise of fears on data privacy and national security. Although it has not been explicitly prohibited, a new suggested law could then determine the destiny of this social media application for millions.
The timeline of legal actions
For several years now, the issue about banning TikTok in America has been going on and it has particularly gained traction under Trump’s administration. In 2020, an executive order sought to prohibit the app citing that national security was at risk due to its connections with China. However, legal injunctions were sought and therefore the ban was never fully realized. The Biden administration has maintained a critical eye on the app thus bringing up a renewed discourse on its future affairs.
Recent reports suggest that new legislation is being drawn to address the matter in a more detailed manner. If this bill is passed then there will be many restrictions placed on TikTok especially as regards handling of data and user privacy issues. As for when these suggested regulations will start is still unclear but officials are calling for prompt actions so as to keep other countries like China from meddling in personal information of users.
National security concerns
The primary concern by the U.S. is that TikTok can be coerced into sharing its user data with the Chinese government on demand under its national security laws. American lawmakers argue that there is an element of risk to Americans who use this platform, especially young people who have made it popular. With over 150 million users in the US alone, this app becomes a target for data mining activities.
Experts in cybersecurity point out that TikTok has collected an enormous amount of information about individuals whose personal details range from locations to internet patterns and as such, should these fall into wrong hands they may be misused. Therefore, bipartisans have called for tougher rules on these social networks, with many of them seeking for greater transparency and national data control.
Public reaction and alternatives
The potential ban has caused a significant controversy. A considerable number of TikTok users voice their grievances by stating that the platform has turned out to be a basic avenue for creativity, companionship and sentiment. Different individuals including influencers, micro-businesses and content producers are anxious about losing an important source of revenue and traffic.
In the case that TikTok is to be prohibited, alternative subscriptions may include things like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts or Snapchat Spotlight. But these social media platforms do not have the kind of audience and traffic that is easily obtainable with Tiktok.
What is the deadline for the U.S ban on Tiktok
The deadline for the U.S. official ban to take effect and Americans cease to use Tiktok would be the 10th of January, subject to the ongoing legal actions.
