There isn’t anything fundamental that TikTok is doing that is objectively worse than any other app, Choffnes says. However, it begs why the government isn’t banning other apps, such as Strava or Map My Run, which shows users’ geolocations on military bases. In that case, that is fine, says Choffnes. Suppose the federal government or a state university wants to ban TikTok on state-owned devices. The White House already does not allow the app on its devices. Those with federal government-issued devices are on a deadline to delete the app from their phone. What is happening with bans inside the U.S.? “That’s not outside the realm of possibility,” Wilson says. What would be concerning is if the Chinese Communist Party said the algorithm needs to change to spread propaganda intentionally. There are a lot of reports, including Federal Trade Commission lawsuits and others, showing companies collecting data about individuals and then selling it for pennies per person to others, including bounty hunters or companies doing background checks, says David Choffnes, the executive director and founding member of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute at Northeastern. “I’ve seen the focus on TikTok referred to as a digital Red Scare,” Alper says. TikTok is at the center of concern due to national security concerns and panics over the increasing prominence of China, says Meryl Alper, an associate professor of communications studies at Northeastern. Entrepreneurs inspire Northeastern community at Women Who Empower event in London Their journey was exhausting, but worth it. But nothing is stopping the Chinese Communist Party from obtaining data from Americans from the open market. If anything, it is because it is a Chinese company subject to the law in China, which allows access to users’ information. “So what makes TikTok unique?” questioned John Wihbey, an associate professor of media innovation and technology in the College of Arts, Media and Design at Northeastern. With all the buzz around banning TikTok, many questions have arisen over data privacy and what’s next for the popular social media app.īelow, Northeastern experts answer some of the most pressing questions: Why is Congress proposing legislation to ban TikTok?

Canada and the executive arm of the European Union also recently banned the app from official devices. The news follows an announcement from the White House last week, which told federal agencies that they had 30 days to delete the app from government devices. The fear, Warner says, is that TikTok can be a propaganda tool. power to ban or prohibit foreign technology where necessary. John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, on a bill that will give the U.S. Warner told Fox News that he is working with Sen. to ban Chinese technology, including popular social media platform TikTok. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner plans to introduce a bill this week that will allow the U.S.

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