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Unpacking the TikTok Privacy Problem and the Chinese Government

     In a cultural age where social media platforms have an insane influence on global conversations, TikTok is the social platform where there are the most issues. With an app built to keep you addicted to short-form videos, millions of people all over the world spend hours a day on TikTok scrolling. Behind all of the hours of content watching lies a complex problem within the privacy concerns and politics tied to the Chinese government. 


Chinese Impact on TikTok

    ByteDance, a Chinese company that owns social media platforms has been in huge intense talks and controversy regarding its policy breaching the privacy of users and creating problems. The concern stems from China's strict internet censorship laws and its National Intelligence Law, which gives Chinese companies an obligation to co-parent with state intelligence laws. Thus creating an issue within TikTok which allows for the app to be a tool for China to use as surveillance and propaganda within the app.

    One of the most significant showings of the issue between security and TikTok was back in 2020 when the Trump administration banned the app in the United States because of its sitings breaching national security concerns. Trump's administration argued that the data collection of TikTok posed a risk to American users' privacy and could allow the Chinese Government to steal information through the app. While the ban was adverted in the end the situation brought security problems to the surface and raised a lot of questions regarding the influence the Chinese government has within the app.



    Although everything in the end stayed the same it is good for the government here in the United States to be on top of things such as privacy issues within social media entertainment. This could cause huge security issues within the government and cause issues with the identity of users.

Comments

  1. Kaylani CFebruary 21, 2024 at 6:50 AM

    I believe that this problem can not be addressed until its actually occurring, until then it is just a concern. But, I believe TikTok is not the only platform that has privacy issues. Consider, Facebook's trial in court a few years ago. In general, social media platforms are prone to security issues-- there are scams, propaganda, etc. that stems from every platform even American owned.

    In my opinion, the concern should not be resolved with a ban. If government wants to enforce regulations on social media contact, I am all for it. But to be honest, these concerns seem to be more directed at Chinese ownership rather than security.

    ReplyDelete

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