TikTok Ban Imminent in US: List of Countries Where ByteDance’s Short-Video Making App Is Banned Over Risk of Cybersecurity and Privacy
The US Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a ban on TikTok, effective Sunday unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app. The court cited national security risks tied to potential Chinese government access to TikTok’s vast user data and its algorithm’s potential for manipulation.
New Delhi, January 17: The US Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a ban on TikTok, effective Sunday unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app. The court cited national security risks tied to potential Chinese government access to TikTok’s vast user data and its algorithm’s potential for manipulation.
The ban impacts 170 million US users, raising concerns about free speech. Political tensions surround the decision, with President-elect Donald Trump vowing to negotiate a solution. Meanwhile, the Biden administration, nearing its transition, has stated it will not enforce the ban on Sunday, President Biden’s last full day in office.
The US government alleges TikTok collects sensitive data, which could be exploited by China, and warns of potential content influence. The ruling intensifies scrutiny over foreign-owned platforms and their implications for national security. MrBeast or Elon Musk, Who Is Buying TikTok? Netizens Debate After YouTuber Says ‘Many Billionaires’ Reached Out to Him Since He Expressed Intention To Buy Short-Video Platform To Prevent Ban.
There have been rumours that Elon Musk might acquire TikTok’s US operations. Multiple reports suggest that Chinese officials are considering this as an option if TikTok cannot prevent the looming ban. However, TikTok has denied any such plans to sell its US operations to Elon Musk.
Meanwhile, YouTuber MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, has expressed interest in buying TikTok to save it from being banned in the US. Additionally to the potential ban in the United States, TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has already been banned in several other countries due to privacy and cybersecurity concerns. REDnote aka Xiaohongshu Banning LGBTQ+ Accounts and Content After Gaining Number 1 Spot in App Store in US As TikTok Ban Looms: Reports.
TikTok Ban: List of Countries Where ByteDance's Social Media Platform is Restricted
- Albania: Albania's decision to ban TikTok for a year in 2024 which came after an alleged killing of a teenager, which raised concerns about the influence of social media on children and youth.
- European Union: The European Union (EU) had expressed concerns about the safety of its citizens, which led to the restrictions on TikTok in February 2023.
- Canada: In February 2023, the Canadian government decided to ban TikTok on all government-issued devices following a review conducted by the Chief Information Officer of Canada.
- Australia: In April 2023, Australia implemented a ban on TikTok for all government devices, including the mobile phones of politicians, due to security concerns.
- India: The Indian government took action against TikTok and other Chinese apps and banned TikTok in September 2020.
Apart from these countries, TikTok is also banned in Pakistan, Nepal, France, New Zealand, Denmark, Malta, Taiwan, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Austria, and Ireland for similar reasons.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 15, 2025 06:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).