In the past few years, TikTok has been under increasing scrutiny for suspicion about the company's ties to the Chinese government and concern over what exactly it does with data it collects, such as location and content preferences it is able to compile from its users.
The popular, and addictive, video-sharing app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has recently been under fire for its involvement in an alleged plot to gather data on U.S. citizens.
The accusation, denied by ByteDance, alleged two cases when a ByteDance team based in China went after TikTok data that could reveal the whereabouts of a U.S. citizen.
Concern over the app has been longstanding.
Citing national security concerns in the summer of 2020, former President Donald Trump vowed to ban TikTok from use across the United States if it wasn't sold to a U.S. entity. Trump issued an executive order that August effectively announcing TikTok was facing an imminent ban in the U.S.
A Federal judge blocked Trump's order at the end of the year. A plan to sell TikTok's U.S. operations to Oracle and Walmart was put on hold by the Biden administration early in 2021 and the Biden administration eventually shelved the ban.
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FCC Commissioner Calls for TikTok Ban
Brendan Carr, a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has again expressed his desire for TikTok to be banned in the United States in his boldest statement yet.
In July 2022, Carr testified about TikTok use in the U.S. government and military. "Thankfully, many entities--public and private--have taken notice and are taking action," he said.
"For example, multiple U.S. military branches have banned TikTok from government-issued devices due to national security risks, including the Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. U.S. government officials have also urged troops and their dependents to erase the app from their personal phones. But as noted above, TikTok continues to be prevalent on service members’ personal devices," he added.
Now, Carr is calling again for a ban and is appealing to a Treasury Department committee for action.
"The Council on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) should take action to ban TikTok," Axios says Carr told the publication. "I don’t believe there is a path forward for anything other than a ban."
The FCC is unable to take action itself, but the Treasury Department's actions have teeth.
Other maneuvering is being considered as well. "TikTok is currently in negotiations with CFIUS to determine whether it can be divested by Chinese parent company ByteDance to an American company and remain operational in the United States," Axios reported.
TikTok currently has 94.1 million users in the U.S., according to Statista.
Twitter Users Have Mixed TikTok Feelings
Social media is understandably following these developments and users have a variety of opinions.
"Not 'should,' more like 'should have already' banned TikTok," writes @Key7th.
"If only there wasn't a first amendment!" exclaims @aaron_techlaw.
"It isn't a first amendment fight. More of a national security issue. Use @lomotifofficial instead. American company, safe and secure," says @JeffTay68778958.
"Wasn't this already considered? Also crazy timing after Elon Says he gonna think about bringing back Vine," writes @BlackPaulBunyan.
"Wouldn’t be surprised that this comms was intended for midterm only. Ban TikTok will have a negative impact on Dems midterm chance," suggests @ElvisKYG.
