The future of TikTok in the U.S. is uncertain. What impact would the potential sale of this popular app have?
TikTok could soon be inaccessible to its more than a hundred million users in the U.S., after the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday
Cast a vote in favor of enacting a legislation
Compelling the application to be purchased by its Chinese parent corporation or else a prohibition may be imposed within the United States.
Similar to other popular social media platforms, such as those owned by American corporations, there is much worry surrounding the extensive collection of private user information by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok based in Beijing, which could potentially pose a risk to national security.
According to the suggested bill, ByteDance must sell off TikTok within six months or risk being banned nationwide. If the app is banned in the United States, it may take some time for TikTok to completely disappear because ByteDance would likely use all available legal strategies to contest the law.
Is it possible for Congress to prohibit TikTok? A legal specialist provides their opinion.
If ByteDance were to sell TikTok, American users would still be able to use the app without any disruption. According to Tsarynny, the change in ownership may not even be noticeable to users and could potentially eliminate concerns about China’s influence in the future.
However, it has been observed by some professionals that all social media companies, even those based in the United States, present certain security threats.
Caitlin Chin-Rothmann, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed concerns about the potential data privacy and security risks posed by companies gathering a large amount of personal information from a significant number of Americans. She further stated that there are multiple ways for malicious actors and foreign entities to obtain this sensitive information.
She stated that a sale could resolve the issue of who owns the business, but it may not guarantee the security of personal information.
Selling TikTok would be difficult due to potential expenses and regulatory obstacles.
According to Chin-Rothmann, in order to acquire TikTok without facing antitrust issues, the purchasing company must be well-funded, financially prosperous, and have a specific interest in the app. However, the likelihood of a successful deal is low.
According to the proposed law, if ByteDance does not sell TikTok, the other option is for the app to be prohibited from appearing in U.S. app stores. President Biden has stated his stance on the matter.
He will approve the legislation document.bill is passed
If the bill is approved by the Senate, it is uncertain if it will ultimately be passed into law. nationwide ban
The potential for the widely-used application to be removed is being considered. Attempts to make this happen have been hindered by legal disputes and worries about freedom of expression.
According to Levin from New Street Research, social media companies have successfully used the First Amendment to persuade courts to reverse state and federal attempts to limit their operations. While this may be a contentious legal issue, Levin believes there is a high probability that the courts will rule in favor of the First Amendment being violated.
The implications of a ban on TikTok users.
In the event of a ban on TikTok in the United States, the app’s over 100 million users who have already downloaded it would most likely still be able to use it. Additionally, new users may be able to obtain the app by utilizing a virtual private network. Despite its removal from app stores, experts predict that the app’s dedicated and resourceful American followers would likely find alternative methods to continue utilizing it.
According to Gabriel Wildau, a senior vice president and China political risk analyst at Teneo, tech-savvy youths will likely find a way to bypass the ban, potentially allowing TikTok to continue operating in some capacity in the United States. While its removal from app stores would limit its capabilities, it would not necessarily result in its complete downfall.
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Source: cbsnews.com