The prohibition of TikTok won't significantly enhance user privacy safeguards
In a bid to address national security concerns, US lawmakers have proposed a bill that could potentially ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok. However, the bill's passage into law remains uncertain, and the effectiveness of such a ban in protecting user data is a topic of debate.
The proposed TikTok ban has been labelled as "security theater" by Calli Schroeder, a senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). Schroeder, who is also a member of Digitale Gesellschaft, an organisation that opposes the ban, argues that it is an ineffective measure in addressing national security concerns.
There is a lack of concrete evidence that TikTok has leaked user information to the Chinese government. In 2020, The Washington Post reported "scant evidence" to support this claim. A 2021 Citizen Lab study also found a lack of overtly malicious behavior in its analysis of TikTok.
Facebook, another tech giant, has faced similar data privacy issues. In 2019, the US Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook USD 5 billion over a slew of data privacy breaches. In 2022, Google was fined USD 391.5 million for illegally tracking users' locations.
The vast size of ByteDance's patent portfolio and China's control over technological exports may hinder the sale of TikTok's assets. In fact, China is prepared to block any potential sale of TikTok's assets.
TikTok, on the other hand, is urging its US users to call their senators and tell them to vote against the ban. The company argues that such a move could negatively impact the creative community on the platform and infringe on the rights of its users.
The bill's progress has stalled in the Senate, leaving room for further lobbying from TikTok. If the bill is approved by the Senate, an outright ban of TikTok seems probable. However, it is important to note that banning TikTok may not effectively protect users' data from China or any other country.
The EPIC views the proposed TikTok ban as a misguided attempt to address national security concerns. Instead, they suggest implementing more targeted measures, such as data localisation requirements and increased transparency, to ensure user data is protected.
The controversy surrounding TikTok serves as a reminder of the importance of data privacy and the need for effective regulations in the tech industry. As the debate over the TikTok ban continues, it is crucial that all parties consider the potential impacts on users, creators, and the broader tech ecosystem.
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