TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms in the world. Launched in 2017 by ByteDance, the platform allows users to create and share short videos of 15 seconds to 3 minutes long. Since its launch, TikTok has seen exponential growth in its user base, going from 150 million monthly active users worldwide in January 2018 to over 1 billion by September 2021 (Source). As of 2023, TikTok has 1.5 billion monthly active users globally and is the sixth most visited website in the world according to Cloudflare (Source). The app has become hugely popular among Generation Z, with 41% of its users being between 16 and 24 years old. A big part of TikTok’s success can be attributed to its algorithmically curated “For You” feed that provides each user with personalized video recommendations, making it extremely addictive.
Data Privacy Concerns
One major concern regarding TikTok is the amount of user data it collects. According to a report from Tampa Bay Times, TikTok “harvests vast troves of data from the smartphones of its users.” This data includes location information, browsing history, and contacts, among other types of personal data.
Experts say TikTok’s data collection practices are more invasive than other social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. As noted by a report on Quora, TikTok accesses users’ clipboards every few keystrokes, tracks users’ locations, metadata, and browsing histories outside the app, and has access to users’ emails, phone numbers, and contact lists if access is granted.
This expansive data collection provides TikTok and its parent company ByteDance with deep insight into American users and their online behaviors and contacts. Experts argue this large trove of sensitive personal data could be exploited by the Chinese government down the line, if they requested access from ByteDance.
Ties to China
TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which was founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming. Despite TikTok positioning itself as a global platform, its parent company ByteDance is still ultimately beholden to Chinese law and the directives of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (AP News).
According to a former ByteDance executive, the CCP has had access to TikTok user data and has used the app to further its own agenda. There are concerns that China could leverage its control over ByteDance to censor content or push propaganda to TikTok’s international users (Fortune).
The close ties between TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and the Chinese government have raised suspicions internationally. Critics argue TikTok should not be allowed to operate in foreign countries if it remains under the influence of the CCP.
National Security Risks
There are grave concerns that TikTok data could be accessed by the Chinese government, posing serious risks to US national security. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, so the company is subject to China’s national intelligence law which requires Chinese companies to “support, assist and cooperate with the state intelligence work”.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has warned that TikTok’s collection of sensitive user data like location, browsing and search histories could allow China to track federal employees and contractors, or build dossiers on millions of Americans for blackmail and corporate espionage.
TikTok claims American user data is stored in the US with strict access controls, but experts say the Chinese parent company could still access the data if needed. Allowing an app under Beijing’s control to harvest so much sensitive information is an unacceptable risk.
Censorship
There have been several allegations that TikTok censors content that is critical of China. In September 2019, The Guardian reported that TikTok instructed moderators to censor videos that mentioned Tiananmen Square, Tibetan independence, or the banned religious group Falun Gong. These leaked documents provide evidence that TikTok was censoring topics considered politically sensitive in China. Other users have claimed that their content related to China’s oppression of Muslims was removed by TikTok. For example, in November 2019, Vox reported that teenager Feroza Aziz had her TikTok account suspended shortly after posting a viral video criticizing China’s mass detention camps for Uighur Muslims. These instances have raised concerns that TikTok is censoring content at the request of the Chinese government.
Spread of Misinformation
TikTok has been criticized for enabling the spread of misinformation, conspiracies, and falsehoods. The platform’s specialized recommendation algorithm is very effective at profiling users and serving them relevant content, but this can lead to “filter bubbles” where users only see information that aligns with their existing beliefs. According to a 2023 study from the Harvard Kennedy School 1, many popular conspiracy theories and false claims gain traction on TikTok before spreading to other platforms. Fact-checking and debunking videos on TikTok have limited reach compared to the misinformation itself.
In particular, TikTok saw a surge of misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 U.S. election, and other major news events. Videos promoting COVID-19 conspiracy theories, anti-vaccine views, election fraud claims, and other false narratives have racked up millions of views on the app. According to CNN reporting 2, TikTok has had issues promptly detecting and removing misinformation during crises and important global events when false claims can spread rapidly on its viral platform.
Investigations and Bans
Various countries around the world have banned or are investigating banning TikTok due to data privacy and national security concerns. India was the first country to ban TikTok in June 2020 after a border clash with China (https://veepn.com/blog/tiktok-ban-countries/). Since then, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have also banned the app. In July 2022, the EU opened an investigation into TikTok’s data practices and India banned TikTok again along with over 100 other apps due to security concerns. Recently in December 2022, the US Senate passed a bill banning TikTok from government devices and Canada announced it will ban TikTok from government issued phones (https://www.context.news/big-tech/tiktok-bans-what-could-they-mean-for-you). Countries part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) have all initiated investigations or bans of TikTok on government devices. While a full ban has not occurred yet in the US, lawmakers continue to express concern over TikTok’s ties to China and potential for censorship or data access. Several US states such as Texas, Maryland, South Dakota and others have banned the app on government devices as well. It’s clear there is mounting global pressure for TikTok to address data privacy and national security issues as more countries explore restrictions or bans.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok has pushed back against allegations of security flaws and data privacy issues. In September 2023, TikTok responded to the Irish Data Protection Commission’s ruling that the company violated GDPR rules on processing children’s data and transparency requirements, arguing that the issues raised were no longer relevant (TikTok). TikTok stated they have made significant upgrades to privacy policies to be more transparent and protect younger users.
TikTok acknowledges past security flaws but claims to have made major improvements. They emphasize their efforts to store U.S. user data domestically with backups in Singapore, improve access controls, and minimize data collection (TIME). TikTok maintains there is no evidence China accesses U.S. user data and says they would refuse any such requests.
In response to bans and investigations, TikTok is attempting to assure governments their policies protect users. They highlight their Transparency and Accountability Centers for regulators to review code and policies.
Proposed Solutions
There have been multiple efforts to regulate TikTok’s data practices in an attempt to address privacy and national security concerns. In January 2022, members of Congress introduced the “No TikTok on United States Phones Act” which would ban TikTok nationally (1). In June 2022, TikTok announced an agreement with the European Data Protection Board to bring its practices in line with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation, including increased transparency around data processing and tightened access controls (2). TikTok also agreed to an independent audit of its practices and complete a data risk assessment. In the U.S., some lawmakers have proposed requiring a U.S. company to take a controlling stake in TikTok to address concerns over Chinese ownership. TikTok has also faced pressure to store U.S. user data domestically rather than in Singapore and access to that data by employees in China has been restricted.
Sources:
(1) https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN12131
(2) https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-europe-regulation-fine-8ebacba7646ef872fb8e85a1bcb93876
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok has faced intense scrutiny over data privacy issues, its ties to China, censorship, and national security concerns. Multiple countries have investigated or banned TikTok, while TikTok defends its security practices and overhauls its policies. The app’s popularity spotlights tensions between data privacy, free speech, and geopolitics.
While TikTok has taken steps to assure Western governments, questions linger. TikTok will likely face ongoing pressure to further distance itself from ByteDance and China. Fully addressing data security fears may require major changes like storing data outside China. TikTok’s ability to resist Chinese pressure on censorship and maintain user trust will continue being tested. Overall, resolving the controversies surrounding TikTok will not be quick or easy.
Looking forward, scrutiny of TikTok highlights broader debates about technology regulation, including data privacy, content moderation, and competition. Policymakers are grappling with hard questions around balancing national security, consumer rights, and innovation. The intense focus on TikTok signals wider reckonings ahead for the tech industry.
