TikTok could be banned if ByteDance doesn’t sell the social network

The US continues to pressure ByteDance to sell TikTok to international shareholders, under threat of banning the social network. The fear is that the app holds sensitive data from many users, including biometrics, and fears it may be leaked to the Chinese government.

Launched in 2016, TikTok reached 2 billion users worldwide in just four years, making it the third fastest growing brand in 2020. Network developed and managed by a Chinese company.

threat to national security

A request for ByteDance to cede leadership of TikTok to sever ties with China was published by The Wall Street Gazetteapproved by BBC news this Thursday (16).

Like other social networks, the short video app can access the personal data of its users. The biggest concern, however, is that the app’s content allows monitoring of consumption and behavior patterns. In addition, leaking this data to the Chinese government poses a threat to US national security.

The Biden administration is demanding TikTok be sold or it could be banned in the US.

The Chinese-owned app has long been a concern for officials over the security of Americans’ data. pic.twitter.com/hUi54ZehVF

— PopBase (@PopBase) 16 March 2023

In response to the British portal, a TikTok spokesperson said: ownership change would be irrelevantas it “will not impose new restrictions on data flow or access”.

The company spokesperson also stated that they are currently working on a more effective measure for this issue. According to TikTok, the initiative called “Texas Project”, transfer of all US user data storage and streaming to US servers.