The TikTok app will likely be banned in some Western countries. It’s already in motion in the United States, all it takes is the right politicians to sign the right papers and it’s done. A smart person would find a workaround, but for the average user, there is no way to get the app, and even if they do find it, it won’t work.
This was a silly idea when former President Trump wanted to do it, and it remains a silly idea under the current administration. This silly thought is transferred to where TikTok is where you come from, not what you do. Of course I’m talking about China.
I’m not a TikTok fan, but I think banning TikTok on government-owned or controlled devices is a smart move. The app definitely collects more user data than it needs and has the ability to monitor everything you type on your keyboard through the browser. I’m not a security researcher, but I don’t have to be. Even those who enjoy TikTok say it’s a privacy nightmare. It’s not a good idea to install it on a phone where your work email is government.
The big problem here is that many other apps are just as bad (and sometimes even worse) when it comes to invading consumer privacy. Both Facebook (now Meta) and Twitter have been caught doing things their own privacy policies said would never happen, so there have been a few times when companies have been caught doing it too far. Why ban TikTok instead of Twitter?
The answer is exactly what you think it is. China. They’re not even trying to hide it, because one of the things that’s been suggested to thwart a nationwide ban is ByteDance selling TikTok to a Western company. Generally speaking, we’re saying keep China out of the equation and we’re fine with all privacy violations. Why?
I’m tired of ending a paragraph with a question, so let’s answer it. People and governments are afraid of China. Especially when it comes to surveillance and information gathering. In today’s political climate, it’s normal not to trust China for whatever reason.
Like most others, I don’t have all the details and I’m not involved in everything that’s going on, so I’m not making any judgments here. I agree that knowing state secrets is very bad, and that the same government spying on civilians is just as bad for a variety of reasons. I don’t know what China (or Germany, Canada, or the US) is doing with regards to “, but I don’t think it’s good.
Also, I don’t pretend to know the ramifications of the Chinese government knowing what we’re watching on TikTok, but I wish they didn’t. One thing I agree with is that access to algorithms being used to promote content could be used for political purposes. Fill it with video content that endorses you, a Biden supporter, or whoever you want, and it will upset some potential voters. Not good when disinformation is being pushed, as is the case with Facebook.
However, I do know one thing. The real solution is tougher consumer privacy laws. The U.S. government opposes China’s access to U.S. users’ data, and the Content-Neutral Privacy Act addresses this. It protects US user data from Meta, Google, Amazon, and all other companies.
The Chinese government can access user data on demand. This is unlike other countries like the US where a warrant is required. If the Chinese government told Google or Apple they wanted all the data about their Chinese users, they would get it and not fight back in court. Unfortunately, the US government has a workaround and is also adopting what it wants.
One way to do that is by using a data broker. These companies partner with app developers and ad providers to collect personal data and sell it to the highest bidders, including state and federal agencies. Another way to circumvent that pesky Fourth Amendment is to have other governments like the UK conduct searches and seizures, handing over their interests under the guise of a global war on terrorism. Yes, it can actually happen. I’m not even going to step into the Patriot Act, but you see where I’m going.
Perhaps this is why the United States has not sought stronger privacy protections. It makes you think.
Either way, banning TikTok is just a quick fix that angers a lot of people. It’s not even a very good Band-Aid.This comes from someone who thinks the app is as bad as the “government” says it is.
If we really want to stop the “bad guys” from accessing our treasure trove of user data, we need to create tougher laws to protect it and impose harsh penalties on companies for violating them. No data collected means no data shared with the communist Chinese boogeymen.
