TikTok Threatens Legal Action Against US Ban

Uploaded on 2020-08-26 in TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Social Media, GOVERNMENT-National, FREE TO VIEW

President Trump has recently said he would ban Chinese-owned video app TikTok from the United States and in response, TikTok intends to take legal action against the US.  

The Trump administration claims that the App could pass data on US citizens back to the Chinese government. Since TikTok is one of the only recent social media startups to compete with tech giants like Facebook, weakening TikTok could further concentrate power among a few tech giants in the US.

The organisation said it was "shocked" by an executive order from the US President outlining the ban and TikTok said it would "pursue all remedies available" to "ensure the rule of law is not discarded".

A TikTok spokesperson told NBC News that the app helped to create jobs across the US and was committed to user privacy. “We’ve hired nearly 1,000 people to our US team this year alone, and are proud to be hiring another 10,000 employees into great paying jobs across the US,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Our $1 billion creator fund supports US creators who are building livelihoods from our platform.

“TikTok US user data is stored in the US, with strict controls on employee access,” the statement said. “TikTok’s biggest investors come from the US. We are committed to protecting our users’ privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform.”

While this conditional ban on TikTok’s US business operations will likely face serious legal challenges, and it’s unclear how immediately enforceable it is, the order creates a serious challenge for TikTok, a wildly popular video streaming app with some 100 million US users. President Trump issued a similar order against China's WeChat in a major escalation in Washington's growing confrontation with the Chinese government. 

As well as WeChat, Tencent is also a leading gaming company and its investments include a 40% stake in Epic Games. The US  President has already threatened to ban TikTok in the US, citing national security concerns, and the company is now in talks to sell its American business to Microsoft. By Executive Order, they have until 15 September to reach a deal.  The executive orders against the short-video sharing platform and the messaging service WeChat are the latest measure in an increasingly broad Trump administration campaign against China.

The Trump administration claims that the Chinese government has access to user information gathered by TikTok, which the company has denied. 

Though TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, is best known as a place where teens share short, often lighthearted musical videos, it has become the center of geopolitical controversy between the US and China over technological power.

For the established US social media giants Facebook and Google, the decision could significantly weaken their fiercest new competitor. A forced sale of TikTok could have negative consequences beyond the people running TikTok. The move threatens to jeopardise the success of an app that’s had a meteoric rise from a relative underdog to one of the most downloaded apps in the world.   

ByteDance:     BBC:        Independent:      Vogue:     CNBC:       Vox:   

You Might Also Read:

Hong Kongers Erase Their Digital Footprints:
 

« VPNs – Training and Access – both now available on CYRIN
Utah University Pays Half Million Dollar Ransom Demand »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

ForgeRock

ForgeRock

ForgeRock, the leader in digital identity, delivers comprehensive Identity and Access Management solutions for consumers, employees and things to simply and safely access the connected world.

Verimatrix

Verimatrix

Verimatrix is a global provider of innovative cybersecurity solutions that protect content, devices, software and applications.

Seric Systems

Seric Systems

Seric is a technology business specialising in security, infrastructure and data management.

CyberGuarded

CyberGuarded

CyberGuarded are an accredited vendor independent information security testing and auditing company.

TrainACE

TrainACE

TrainACE, is a professional computer training school offering courses in information technology with a focus on Advanced Security training.

NAVEX Global

NAVEX Global

NAVEX Global’s compliance management system consolidates your entire GRC program onto a scalable cloud-based platform.

Fedco International

Fedco International

Fedco International is an IT and SCADA ICS Security consultancy firm.

Clym

Clym

Clym is the data privacy platform that helps organisations meet their data protection obligations. Cookies, Consent, Requests, Policies and more are all managed in a secure and adaptive application.

Sky Data Vault

Sky Data Vault

Sky Data Vault provide the simplest and most cost effective method of Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity for mission critical systems and applications.

Apozy

Apozy

Apozy replaces a secure web gateway to nullify phishing, malware and impersonation attacks.

Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP)

Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP)

Bessemer Venture Partners was born from innovations that literally forged modern building and manufacturing. Today, our team of investors works with people who want to create revolutions of their own.

Network Intelligence

Network Intelligence

Network Intelligence delivers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered cybersecurity solutions built on the ADVISE framework.

Accedian

Accedian

Accedian is a leader in performance analytics and end user experience solutions, dedicated to providing our customers with the ability to assure their digital infrastructure.

Prime Technology Services

Prime Technology Services

Prime Tech are a group of Red Hat, Microsoft & Cisco Certified IT Professionals with an impressive track record of consistently delivering value to our corporate clients.

CipherStash

CipherStash

CipherStash is a complete data governance and breach prevention platform.

Sardine

Sardine

Sardine is a leader in financial crime prevention. Using unparalleled device intelligence and behavior biometrics, Sardine applies machine learning to detect and stop fraud before it happens.