Is TikTok’s Future in America Uncertain

Is TikTok’s Future in America Uncertain



Is TikTok’s future in America uncertain?

The ⁣influencers ‍are expressing their concerns. On March 13th, the House of Representatives ​in America passed a bill that would prevent app stores and‌ internet ​providers ⁤from distributing “foreign-adversary-controlled applications”. The main target is TikTok, a popular short-video app that has 170​ million American users spending​ an average of 56 minutes a ‌day on it.

TikTok’s presence ‌in America has always ‌been uncertain due to⁤ its Chinese ownership. Despite being based in ‌Los Angeles⁢ and ⁣Singapore, it is a subsidiary of ByteDance, a Chinese tech ​company. This has raised concerns among both Democrats ⁢and Republicans that the Chinese‌ government could potentially use TikTok for spying on American‌ citizens or influencing ⁣public ⁤opinion. TikTok has denied​ these allegations and‍ has taken steps to address concerns by involving​ Oracle, an American‌ software giant, to protect the data of American users and review its source code. The company also highlights that American investors, such as Carlyle and General Atlantic, are ⁢among ByteDance’s major shareholders.

If the bill becomes law, ByteDance will be required to either sell TikTok’s ‍American ⁢operations within six months or shut​ them down. The‌ pressure for such action has been mounting since TikTok’s ⁣CEO, Shou Zi Chew, ⁢appeared before Congress last March. The company, however, was taken by surprise at the speed‌ with which the usually‍ slow-moving American lawmakers have⁢ acted.

2024-03-13 14:30:27
Article from‍ www.economist.com

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