Anyone with a Gen Z member in their life is likely familiar with the popular social media app TikTok, but a new bill in the US could soon wipe it out of the US market.
TikTok seems pretty innocuous as it includes singing, dancing, and lip-syncing all in one app, but the app has come under increased scrutiny recently, primarily involving involvement with the Chinese government. Many safety concerns arise.
“The biggest concern is who will ultimately own and control the large media platforms from which so many people get their news. It's a big concern for the United States,” David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security, said in an interview Thursday.
A bill signed by US President Joe Biden would require the company's Chinese owners to sell to Americans, or the app would be unable to operate in the huge US market.
Shipley added that the ban is more than just a partisan issue.
“There is a very real threat. Remember, this is the most partisan America ever, and everyone from Republicans to Democrats supports this. It shows that it is and is real,” Shipley added.
“What Americans are exposing here is that they can't trust what's happening on TikTok and how it's influencing the minds of our most important next generation. is.”
Shipley said one of the biggest concerns for the government is TikTok's access to information and how it can control what is seen.
“Remember that at the core of these social media platforms there are algorithms that control what you see, when you see it, and what topics you see. And they pit us against each other and make us react to things. “This is in the absolute interest of the Chinese nation,” he said.
“It's no coincidence that social media is at such a fever pitch, with issues like anti-Semitism, partisanship in politics, and a lack of belief that democracy works.”
Another concern Shipley raised is how difficult it is to regulate apps like TikTok.
“We need to take a more sophisticated path towards regulation. Honestly, in the days of radio and television, we used to regulate our airways and think of our limited natural resources as a spectrum, so the media Ownership, focus, values, ethical responsibility, editor responsibility,” Shipley said.
As for whether Canada should also take steps to ban the app, Shipley said there is a larger question at stake.
“This is not a fight that we need to stick our noses into, let the Americans lead. But we need to pay attention to it,” Shipley said.
“The reality, however, is that when it comes to national security, not only do we stay out of the picture, but we also investigate foreign interference and abuse of our nomination process. If we can't take that seriously, then… “We will be completely unprepared to play this game,” he said.
