TikTok's future in the US hangs in mid-air till this Sunday, January 19th, where it could be the end of the line for the app unless its Chinese owners agree to a forced sale to an American businessman or investor. The Congress is citing concerns about user data falling into the hands of the Chinese Communist government, and they passed a law in April last year demanding ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell the app to an American entity within nine months.
You've probably heard that countries, like the UK, and those in Europe, are freaking out about TikTok stealing their citizen’s data. They're banning TikTok from government devices because the app erodes online privacy and security of every user. Some most concerning reasons for the ban are:
TikTok's algorithm is super powerful because it is specifically designed to keep you hooked, but there's a fear it could be used to spread fake news, push harmful content, bigotry, and manipulate what you see and think.
Governments are worried TikTok could be used to spy on them or even influence US Presidential Elections. The thought of data breaches or the app being used for privacy breach is a major threat, and not something the US government hides under the rug.
If they care so much about data collection. Maybe, congress can pass data collection laws instead of just focusing on Tik Tok — alone.
— Winters Politics 🖤 (@WintersPolitics) January 10, 2025
Hypocrites.
TikTok collects extensive user data, including personal information, browsing history, and potentially sensitive biometric data such as facial scans. This raises concerns about the scope and security of the data collected and who has access to it.
A US ban on TikTok would not immediately shut down the app for existing users. However, it would gradually deteriorate, becoming unstable, insecure, and eventually unusable.
TikTok's data security practices have been a subject of scrutiny and debate for the past few years now. While the platform uses various security measures to protect your data, concerns remain regarding the sharing of information with the Chinese government. You must take proactive steps when it comes to your privacy.
Yes, you can but be cautious! Avoid sideloading the TikTok app if you didn't previously have it. Sideloading can expose you to malicious software and compromise your data security. Refrain from jailbreaking your device as it can void your warranty.
If TikTok is at all accessible after Sunday, it will truly prove just how useless our Federal Government really is. What is the point of declaring something a National Security Threat and pushing to ban it, only to totally change up days before that ban goes into effect?
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 16, 2025
If you want to access TikTok even when it is banned, try changing your Play Store region through PureVPN to a country where TikTok is accessible. Further, you can change the region of your PlayStore from another device at home to access the TikTok app from a region where it's available.
Yes. If a platform is banned in any region due to regulatory or privacy concerns, it can be accessed through a VPN. PureVPN, with its undoubted privacy & security reputation, bypasses restrictions and allows you to access TikTok in the US or other countries without hassle.
The TikTok ban is expected on Sunday, January 19 in the US. The ban will not stop you from using TikTok immediately, you can still access some of the features or backup your data if you want.
Reports indicate that TikTok employees have previously leaked user data. While the extent of this issue is still debatable, there are inherent privacy risks. TikTok collects user data, including IP addresses, browsing history, and device information, which can target you with personalized ads.
Many companies have made TikTok app clones recently but didn’t get the market share to compete with the main app. RedNote, which is also a Chinese app, is seen to be the most downloaded app after the news of the TikTok ban has spread in the US like wildfire.
The US government's scrutiny of TikTok has cast a long shadow! While a ban may not immediately stop its use, it would impact its accessibility and long-term viability in the US market.
Reports suggest former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt are exploring acquisition possibilities. However, Chinese officials are reportedly favoring a different outcome: a takeover by Elon Musk, which is just a rumor.