TikTok ban latest: Complete app shutdown looms as company CEO set to testify at Congress
TikTok rolls out new policies restricting “deepfakes.”
TikTok is facing a full ban in the US over fears China is using the app as a covert tool to spy and spread propaganda.
CEO Shou Chew is set to testify before Congress Thursday, with members of the House Energy and Trade Committee expressing concerns about how much access the Chinese government has to user data and how much influence the Chinese Communist Party has over it.
TikTok has consistently denied such allegations, although that hasn’t stopped the US and other countries from banning the app from government and military devices.
Some countries like India have even enacted a nationwide ban on TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps due to national security concerns.
With more than 150 million TikTok users in the US, many will be watching Thursday’s proceedings closely to see if Biden’s government follows India in banning TikTok.
Here you can follow all the news and updates in our live coverage.
TikTok influencers address potential app ban in Washington DC
TikTok influencer Janette Ok speaks during a media availability Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Washington.
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TikTok influencer Gohar Khan speaks during a media availability Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Washington.
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Graem MassieMarch 22, 2023 10:12 p.m
How to avoid ban on TikTok?
The US government is reportedly demanding that TikTok’s parent company ByteDance sell its US business to avoid a total ban.
If not, the bill mentioned in the previous post would allow the Secretary of Commerce to block foreign companies from doing business in the US if they are deemed a threat to national security.
“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” TikTok CEO Shou Chew will say during his testimony on Thursday.
Its pre-filed written statement claims, “TikTok has never disclosed US user data to the Chinese government or received a request for disclosure. Also, TikTok would not honor such a request if one was ever made.”
He will also defend TikTok’s handling of US user data by detailing the $1.5 billion Project Texas. The process involves hosting and routing all US data through the Oracle Cloud.
Anthony CuthbertsonMarch 22, 2023 8:00 p.m
How would a TikTok ban actually work in the US?
The Biden administration is currently attempting to pass the RESTRICT ACT, which attorneys say would allow the US government to bypass language protections embedded in existing law.
But how would a TikTok ban actually be implemented?
US officials are yet to provide specifics on how a total ban would actually be implemented in the US, but it would likely result in Apple and Google removing it from their app stores and ISPs blocking access to the site.
There are always ways to circumvent such bans – most likely any VPN would be able to circumvent all restrictions – but when the same thing happened in India, most users simply switched to copycat short-form content set up by YouTube and Facebook.
Anthony CuthbertsonMarch 22, 2023 6:52 p.m
TikTok ban: chronicling the app’s controversial rise to the top
TikTok was the most downloaded app in the world last year, beating its biggest rival Instagram by more than 100 million downloads.
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This is despite a total ban on TikTok imposed in India in 2020, where nearly 200 million people used the app. Other countries have also imposed bans and partial bans, including Europe and the US, as shown in this map:
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You can see all the charts and read the full story of TikTok’s controversial rise to the top here:
Anthony CuthbertsonMarch 22, 2023 5:38 p.m
TikTok ban warning from CEO Shou Chew
His warning that “all 150 million” US users could be banned has already spawned dozens of “duets” from TikTok users, with the majority of them apparently offering their support for both Chew and TikTok.
While the official TikTok account where the video was posted has nearly 70 million followers and 288 million likes, Chew’s personal account has only 17,000 followers and 68,000 likes. He could see that change in the coming days when his appearance before Congress would make headlines around the world.
Anthony CuthbertsonMarch 22, 2023 4:26 p.m
Shou Chew will have to wait less than 24 hours before appearing before Congress on Thursday, March 23 at 10 a.m. local time (2 p.m. GMT).
He’s already posted a TikTok asking US users what they want their elected representatives to know about “What You Love” on TikTok.
“I will testify before Congress this week to share everything we are doing to keep Americans who use the app safe and to fulfill our mission to inspire creativity and bring joy,” he said in the post , which was published on the main TikTok account.
His own account has been remarkably quiet considering he’s the app’s boss, having posted fewer than a few dozen times in his story. His low profile matches his public persona, which he has kept extremely private compared to the heads of other tech giants.
There are only six sentences on his Wikipedia page, but if you want to learn more you can read this:
Anthony CuthbertsonMarch 22, 2023 3:01 p.m
Hello and welcome…
To The Independent‘s coverage of TikTok and the looming US ban. We’ll bring you the latest news and developments as CEO Shou Chew prepares to face questions from lawmakers in Washington on Thursday.
Its appearance could prove pivotal in whether the Biden administration decides to move forward with a total ban on the hugely popular app, having already blocked it from devices used by government employees and military personnel. TikTok was the most downloaded app in the US last year, with each action expected to affect more than 150 million users.
Anthony CuthbertsonMarch 22, 2023 2:43 p.m