Title: Trump's Stance on Banning TikTok: Challenging the Safety Narrative Against China
Title: Trump's Stance on Banning TikTok: Challenging the Safety Narrative Against China
It's quite a shift in perspective coming from the person who initially tried to ban TikTok in the U.S., citing concerns over data security and potential Chinese government spying. In his failed 2020 executive order, Trump argued that TikTok's data collection could provide the Chinese government with the ability to track federal workers, build dossiers for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.
Since then, both state and federal agencies, including the military, have restricted staff from downloading TikTok on work devices. Congress, in 2021, even passed a law with bipartisan support, requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese owner to avoid a ban. The Supreme Court upheld this decision on national security grounds.
Trump's concerns about data security might hold some weight, although oversimplified. It's true that social media platforms like TikTok collect personal data such as location, search history, and purchase history. However, experts argue that transferring control of TikTok to a new owner won't necessarily protect US users' data from China. China, they say, can still buy user data from data brokers, which make such information widely available.
If lawmakers are truly concerned about protecting American users' data from the Chinese government, they should consider passing comprehensive data privacy legislation, limiting what data companies can collect and sell, according to Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Furthermore, China has advanced cyber-espionage capabilities, allowing the country to spy on U.S. entities, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US and American telecom networks. Consequently, data collection isn't the only concern regarding TikTok. Lawmakers worry that the Chinese government could manipulate the TikTok algorithm to spread propaganda or disinformation or sow discord among Americans.
However, Donald Trump's dismissal of TikTok as 'young kids watching crazy videos' fails to acknowledge the app's popularity among Americans. Nearly half of the U.S. population uses TikTok, often for news, politics, and world events discussions.
Trump's comment might hint at his proposal for a 50-50 joint venture between the U.S. and China to control TikTok, which raises questions about the legality of this suggestion considering the recent law enacted for its sale or ban. His change of heart regarding TikTok's potential threat to U.S. national security is unclear, especially given China's ongoing cyber-espionage activities.
Whether TikTok is sold in part or entirely, ensuring that Beijing no longer has any means of controlling it is a complex task, given that the platform originated in China. However, some experts argue that selling TikTok in its entirety remains crucial for U.S. national security to prevent potential Chinese manipulation and data misuse.
The tech industry is closely watching the developments around TikTok's sale, as the business outcome could set a precedent for how tech companies handle data privacy concerns with foreign governments. Despite the sale, concerns persist about potential Chinese influence on the app, such as manipulating its algorithm for propaganda or disinformation purposes.