According to multiple sources, TikTok has been downloaded 672 million times, making it the most popular app in the world in 2023. Other sources report that “TikTok had 150 million monthly active users in the U.S. as of February 2023, up from 100 million reported in August 2020.”
These numbers highlight the importance of the event Over the past week. Consider the following TikTok-related headlines.
CNN: Biden just signed into law a potential ban on TikTok.what happens next
“President Joe Biden signed legislation Wednesday that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok, amplifying a major threat to the company's U.S. operations.
“Congress passed the bill this week as part of a broader foreign aid package aimed at aiding Israel and Ukraine. It was approved by the House on Saturday and approved by the Senate on Tuesday. The bill is the most serious for TikTok. Under current U.S. law since U.S. authorities began raising concerns about the app in 2020, TikTok would be forced to find a new owner within months or be banned from the U.S. entirely. has been done. ”
Hollywood Reporter: TikTok CEO reacts to law that could ban app: 'We're not going anywhere'
“On Wednesday morning, President Biden signed a national security bill that will force TikTok to be sold to owner ByteDance or face a possible ban in the United States.
“Minutes later, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew responded with a video posted on the platform, declaring, 'Rest assured, we're not going anywhere.'
“'Don't get me wrong, this is a ban, this is a ban on TikTok, it's a ban on you and your voice,' Chu says in the video. 'Politicians may say different things. But don't be confused.
Vox: Is TikTok's new ban real?
“The Constitution here seems simple and clear: Congress should ban TikTok and other social media platforms completely unless they can show that they raise legitimate and serious privacy and national security concerns that cannot be addressed by other means.” Krishnan said that protecting Americans' First Amendment rights necessarily requires a very high level of legitimacy.
“Lawmakers have argued that the bill they are considering is not actually an outright ban, but rather a 'narrow ban' if the app is controlled by a foreign adversary, New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone.” Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the bill in March, citing national security concerns, as it would create new authority to ban apps in situations where foreign ownership of U.S. airwaves is prohibited. He said he compared it to historic efforts to stop it.
NPR: President Biden signs law banning TikTok nationwide unless sold
“Still, this law is not expected to cause immediate disruption to TikTok, and future legal challenges and various hurdles to selling the app are likely to result in months of delays.
“The measure was included in a bill providing foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The law requires ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok within 12 months under threat of closure. It is stipulated.”
A little more background
This topic has been around for a few years, and even came up last spring. We discussed this in detail in the March 2023 episode of “In Case You Missed It (ICYMI).”
I also think it's important to note that the TikTok ban that Montana introduced last year was blocked by a federal judge last November before it could take effect.
“This ruling, issued Thursday, means that Montana's ban on TikTok, which was scheduled to go into effect on January 1st, has been temporarily suspended.
U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said Montana's ban on TikTok “exceeds state authority” and “likely violates the First Amendment.”
Molloy said that while Montana officials are defending the law as an attempt to protect the state's consumers, “Montana's Legislature and Attorney General are more concerned about TikTok than protecting Montana consumers.'' “There is little doubt that China was interested in targeting China's ostensible role in this,'' the judge wrote.
A more thorough analysis of this judgment can be found in this article, but here is one excerpt that I think may be helpful.
“'SB 419 explicitly bans TikTok because of its direct ties to certain foreign countries,'” Molloy wrote. “At best, the nation-state comparisons are weak; at worst. In this case, this reflects the pervasive undertones of anti-China sentiment that permeates the country's litigation and immediate legislation.”
“He argues that the state has also failed to provide evidence to support its purported consumer protection interests, that the state has no significant governmental interest in regulating foreign affairs, and that it has no consumer protection interests in this bill.” “The plaintiffs are likely to prevail on their argument.”
Essentially, the judge said, while this is a federal issue, it also raises constitutional issues of free speech.
TikTok's parent company ByteDance has already vowed to challenge this ruling in federal court, and these legal challenges will likely take months or even years to resolve. . Therefore, the timing of the ban is likely to be after 2025.
final thoughts
It is rare for federal legislation to enjoy such broad bipartisan support. But it's clear that majorities in both parties view TikTok as a serious threat to U.S. national security. It remains to be seen whether an agreement can be reached to sell TikTok (or parts of TikTok) to a US company.
But if we take a big step back, the overall reaction of younger generations to these efforts could be a big factor in what ultimately happens with this TikTok ban. I am writing this article as protests surge across the country regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among many other global tensions, this legislation is included in a bill that provides defense funding to Israel and Ukraine.
If a ban on TikTok does happen, it will likely happen after the November election. If the government changes, the trend on this issue may change.
In short, watch this space. Because never before has such a popular social media app been at the forefront of international relations involving cybersecurity, privacy, free speech, data protection, influence during elections, and more.
