In a July 2021 town hall meeting, President Joe Biden revealed his willingness to sign a bill that could essentially ban the popular Chinese social media platform, TikTok, if such legislation is passed by Congress. This statement hinges on national security concerns linked to the Beijing-based company.
The Biden administration has inherited a complex relationship with China, including the looming threat of TikTok's ban that was initiated under the previous administration. Thus, any discussions about Chinese tech companies invariably encompass conversations of national security and data privacy concerns.
Trump's administration sought to ban TikTok, arguing that it presented national security risks. These risks stemmed from ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, potentially sharing their American users' data with the Chinese Government.
This concern eventually led the Trump administration to order ByteDance to sever ties with its American TikTok operations. At one point, Oracle and Walmart were set to acquire these operations but the deal fell through.
Now in the current administration, President Biden revoked Trump's attempts to ban TikTok and WeChat, another popular Chinese messaging app. However, with his recent statement, the future of these platforms remains uncertain in the USA.
Biden stated that the Chinese Government allegedly using these tech companies as platforms for manipulation presents significant issues. Thus the revoking of Trump's order should not be mistaken as a sign of softer Washington stance on Chinese tech firms.
Instead, Biden has taken a different approach to the concept of banning TikTok. In June 2021, he signed an order urging the Commerce Department to thoroughly investigate apps tied to foreign adversaries that may pose a risk to American data privacy or national security.
Chinese tech companies, including Huawei and WeChat, have already faced scrutiny under this order. However, TikTok, despite being under review, has yet to face an outright ban.
Regarding the potential ban of TikTok, Biden stated that he wouldn't hesitate to sign a bill banning the app if it's passed by Congress. His allusion to the possibility of a congressionally-approved ban indicates that irreversible decisions are still on the table.
This vulnerability of TikTok and similar apps is even more poignant considering the ongoing tensions between the USA and China. With the continued scrutiny of the Chinese government's practices, more tech companies may find themselves under the national security spotlight.
The recent cybersecurity concerns have only fueled the debate. Digital espionage, offensive cyber operations, and China's pursuit of semiconductor supremacy have all raised concerns about Chinese tech companies operating abroad.
The importance of such concerns can't be overstressed, especially considering the vast amount of data these apps collect. The sharing of American user data with a foreign adversary is a significant concern for the US Government.
Biden's stance offers an insight into general sentiments surrounding Chinese tech companies. It also highlights how foreign tech companies operating in the USA may need to tread carefully under the current environment of increased scrutiny and regulation.
Still, this position is not without its critics. Many argue that rather than outright bans, the better approach would be to establish strong data protection laws. Such laws would be more applicable and enforceable.
Experts advise that the banning of certain apps is a short-term solution that fails to address the lingering issue of data privacy adequately. A comprehensive data privacy law should instead be the government's priority.
However, from the perspective of the law, Biden's statement encourages speculation about what such a bill might look like. If Congress were to pass a bill banning TikTok, it would present an interesting legal precedent.
Conversely, would a persuasive allocation of Congress's time be spent on debating one particular app's ban? Such a bill might shift the focus away from the wider issues of data privacy and cybersecurity concerns ensuring the safety of American data.
Currently, it remains to be seen what course of action the Biden administration will take regarding TikTok and whether Congress will consider such legislation. Regardless, the discussion around TikTok opens broader conversations around national security, data privacy and how the USA interacts with foreign tech companies.