Opinion: By Thomas Schram Credit: The Myriad News
Thomas Schramm reports on growing concerns about the app TikTok and its reliability with data protection.
Popular app TikTok raises concern over privacy issues
With growing concerns over data privacy and security, the popular social media app TikTok has come under fire in recent months for its supposed sharing of data with the Chinese government.
The app, which has more than 2 billion downloads worldwide, allows the user to share short one minute videos that can be watched from around the globe. However, there is now concern over the lack of privacy the app offers and what the collected data could be used for.
India bans TikTok, and many other countries might follow suit
Recently banned in India, TikTok is now being reviewed around the world as lawmakers contemplate possible security threats the app poses. The app provides the user with a personalized feed, analyzing content the user both likes and dislikes.
This information, along with more rudimentary data such as email, contacts, age and phone number, is collected to provide a digital copy of the user. The concern has become that DanceByte, the company that owns TikTok, will share this personal data with the Chinese government, opening the door to a whole host of dangers for private citizens.
DanceByte CEO denies claims of sharing information with the CCP
American CEO of DanceByte Kevin Mayer stated the company never shares user data with the CCP. However, Mayer’s claims do little to ease concerns, as the CCP is actively banning TikTok users for criticizing actions of the Chinese government, showing that the CCP does in fact have a hand in the actions of the company. DanceByte denies these claims.
Within the United States, active military personnel are banned from having TikTok downloaded on their devices and the Trump Administration is taking a deeper look at a possible TikTok ban. In an interview on Fox News, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced concern that the American public’s information would be in the hands of the Chinese government.
This concern is shared by proponents of the ban, as they say, that China’s access to personalized American data poses an immeasurable threat. Pompeo also stated that the US government is taking the situation very seriously and thoroughly investigating possible solutions.
Personal data information becomes increasingly valued in society
Data has become the most important commodity of the 21st century, and the American public is becoming conscious of the dangers it poses. It is nearly impossible to live your life without having your data shared, whether it be through online shopping platforms, social media, or even internet browsing.
Within the United States and most countries, this data is used for targeted ads, political fundraising, and personalized online content. The concern over TikTok, however, is not of the collection of data but who possesses it.
The Chinese Communist Party has used collected data to censor outspoken critics of the government. They have abused data collection to a concerning degree, which puts US citizens at risk.
American Gen-Z’ers disapprove of the imminent TikTok ban
As concerned as lawmakers may be about the dangers of TikTok, the American public seems unfazed by the threats.
According to a Morning Consult Poll, 60 percent of Gen-Z’ers, the generation that dominates app usage, believes that TikTok should not be banned. On the other hand, only 20 percent of Gen-Z’ers were in favor of the ban and 21 percent undecided.
A similar sentiment is shared by US adults, with 30 percent approving of a possible ban and 35 percent disapproving of the ban. Essentially, the TikTok community is voicing that the app should stay.
The US, Australia, the UK and a host of other nations have voiced concern over their citizens’ use of TikTok and bans seem imminent. The handling of the Tik Tok app and data collection will most likely serve as a precedent for future online data collection regulation.
It will be telling to see how governments around the world react to modern-day privacy concerns. Hopefully, through careful research and analysis, a solution will be developed that benefits the public worldwide.