The United States government is looking to ban TikTok
TikTok, for so long the scourge of the music industry, is now under facing a lifetime ban from the U.S. government.
It’s no secret Donald Trump’s administration is engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war with China.
For the first time, Trump’s allies have suggested TikTok could become collateral damage.
Speaking on Fox News Monday night, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted the U.S. was considering banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps over national security and privacy concerns.
“With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too,” Pompeo said “I don’t want to get out in front of the president, but it’s something we’re looking at.”
Pompeo had a warning for TikTok users: Use it only “if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
TikTok has already been banned in India, the market with the biggest number of users outside China, in what appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to the June 15 confrontation with Chinese military in the remote Karakoram mountain border region.
In late June, India’s information technology ministry banned 59 Chinese-owned apps, including TikTok, after claiming it had received reports that mobile apps were “stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data.”
TikTok fans in Hong Kong will also need a new fix. The short-video platform has withdrawn from the city after China imposed sweeping new powers, which have fueled privacy concerns.
“In light of recent events, we’ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong,” a spokesman told the BBC.
A censored Chinese version, Douyin, is still available in Hong Kong.
Where does Australia sit with all this? This story is a moving target.
Earlier this week, The Herald Sun reported that the federal government is facing calls to ban TikTok over growing national security and data spying fears.
Plans are said to be underway to yank the app ahead of the Foreign Interference through Social Media senate inquiry amid fears that the Chinese-owned platform leaks users’ information to Beijing.
“TikTok does not share information of our users in Australia with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government, and would not do so if asked,” noted Lee Hunter, General Manager, TikTok Australia. “We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity.”
TikTok
TikTok, which is operated by Chinese tech company Bytedance, has been on a tear in recent months.
In May 2020, it was the most downloaded app globally, according to market researcher Sensor Tower, with 112 million installs, a double-fold increase from the same month in 2019.
TikTok is like head candy for Gen Z, and has emerged as one of the power-sources for pop and hip-hop artists.
Don’t believe it? Look at the singles charts. The top two slots in the U.K. and Australia, “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” by Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo, and “Rockstar” by DaBaby Feat. Roddy Ricch, both owe their viral fame to TikTok.
It’s the “hot new social network,” particularly with young Australians, according to market research firm Roy Morgan, which reports more than 1.6 million Australians visiting the TikTok website or use the app in an average month.
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.