TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned app, stopped working for 170 million American users on Saturday after a national security law, banning the platform, came into effect. The U.S. Supreme Court had earlier rejected a last-minute legal challenge from ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to overturn the ban. The court upheld the law, which required Byte Dance to sell TikTok to a US based company by 19th January to address national security concerns. Without the sale, TikTok was banned on the grounds that its Chinese ownership could allow the Chinese government to use it for espionage or political manipulation.
TikTok is now resuming services after the President-elect, Donald Trump, announced he would issue an executive order granting the app a temporary reprieve when he takes office. TikTok’s issues are not unique; many social media platforms face scrutiny because of privacy and security concerns. However its ties to China have made it a popular target for western governments and regulators.
TikTok’s Data Collection
Like many social media apps, TikTok gathers an extensive range of user data, often more than you (dear user!) realise. This includes:
- General Usage Data: Every video you watch, how long you watch it, and your interactions (likes, comments, shares).
- Messages: The entire contents of messages sent within the app, which are not encrypted.
- Device Information: Your internet address, device type, and operating system details.
- Location Data: Precise GPS location if permission is granted, as well as metadata that reveals general location.
- Contacts: Access to phone contacts and linked social accounts if you grant permission.
- Biometric Data: Videos of your face are analysed, potentially providing unique faceprints and voiceprints.
- Payment Information: If you make in-app purchases or send virtual gifts.
While TikTok claims that this data helps improve user experiences and personalise content recommendations, critics argue that it enables the creation of highly detailed user profiles. These profiles could be exploited for targeted advertising, surveillance, or profiling. Concerns are heightened by TikTok’s opaque algorithms and encoded processes, which make external scrutiny nearly impossible.
Though many social platforms collect similar data, TikTok has faced heightened scrutiny due to its rapid global growth, popularity among younger users, and links to China. These factors, combined with fears of surveillance and societal manipulation, have positioned TikTok as a focal point for political and regulatory action.
Will the UK Ban TikTok?
The U.S. is not alone in its concerns about TikTok. Governments around the world have adopted various measures to regulate or ban the app due to worries about data privacy, national security, and its societal impact.
In March 2023, UK government ministers were banned from using the TikTok app on their work phones. The United States, Canada, Belgium and India have all adopted similar measures. On 4th April 2023, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued a £12.7 million fine to TikTok for a number of breaches of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), including failing to use children’s personal data lawfully. This followed a Notice of Intent issued in September 2022.
For the UK to consider a full ban, there would likely need to be irrefutable evidence of TikTok’s data being exploited for espionage or manipulation by China. Additionally, geopolitical tensions between China and Western nations could further push the UK towards more stringent measures. For now, stricter regulations, fines, and partial bans (e.g., on government devices) seem more probable than a complete ban.
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