By Daniel Duque, March 26, 2024
The U. S. House of Representatives passed a bill on March 13 to ban popular social media platform TikTok in the U. S. if China-based ByteDance sells its stake in the platform.
The bill, which passed by a vote of 352 to 65, addresses lawmakers’ considerations of a national security risk, saying ByteDance could simply share users’ knowledge with the Chinese government. The Senate has yet to vote on this bill.
TikTok is widely used in the United States with over 170 million registered users. Of those, many academics use this platform for entertainment purposes or content creation.
Shu Shang, an assistant law professor at Cal Poly Pomona, said the bill may also affect relations with China, especially with technology investors who would possibly prevent them from contemplating making an investment or expanding their business in the U. S. market. Shang explained how the U. S. enables the foreign flow of knowledge and the goal behind it.
“The U. S. and its foreign position have been to advertise the flexible flow of knowledge to advertise any kind of valid commercial interest,” Shang said.
Shang went on to say that the Chinese government has a larger role in accessing and collecting user knowledge from personal corporations like ByteDance, which can complicate belief in knowledge sharing and the degree to which it may pose a risk to national security in the United States. States.
In addition to its entertaining purpose, TikTok has a platform on which political propaganda and incorrect information have been spread among its users, even through the site President Joe Biden’s crusade is announced.
“We want to perceive that there is a difference in governance between the U. S. and many other countries,” Shang said. “How is this going to translate into a national security risk?I think there’s a lot of things that want to be solved halfway through before we get there.
Before a decision is made on whether TikTok will be banned, although there is evidence to suggest that corporations like ByteDance could simply share users’ knowledge with the Chinese government, Shang believes that the data deserves to be made public so that he can analyze what kind of connection ByteDance has with the Chinese government and whether users are threatened by its knowledge gathering.
“If we’re going to identify the connection between ByteDance and the Chinese government to communicate about the extent of the customer privacy breach, we want to perceive what kind of link we’re looking to unblock,” Shang said. “If we don’t have that information, it’s actually hard to assess the effect on whether this app is banned or not. “
For CPP students, TikTok represents a vital source of video entertainment that engages subjects and content creators. For Diana Garcia, a liberal studies student, TikTok is a site to watch videos but also to buy products from customers.
“I use TikTok regularly to watch videos, I buy smart-looking products, but for me it’s just a form of entertainment,” Garcia said. “I actually enjoy watching the videos posted on TikTok and regularly watch really smart products. “
Garcia is under pressure that she’s not concerned about the privacy of her data on TikTok, as other entertainment platforms collect user data and it’s common for them to do so, but she explained how banning the platform could have a negative effect on CPP students, focusing on the ability to earn a source of income through content creation.
“I know there’s a lot of CPP content creators out there, I’ve really met a few, so I think it’s going to go to a lot of academics who can also make a living from TikTok,” Garcia said. “They’re possibly using the money they get from TikTok for tuition or for a living, so I think that’s going to benefit a lot of students financially. “
For García, the explanation of the possible ban on the platform is justified, since he considers that it is only a product of the tensions between the governments of the United States and China. He also said that TikTok contributes to the economic expansion of the United States, mentioning the fact that in addition to content creation, the platform serves as an advertising medium for businesses and content creators.
“It’s helping all the small and giant businesses financially, but overall it’s just a new format to buy food and watch content at the same time,” Garcia said. “This cash is not only distributed in China, but it’s also distributed in the United States, so I don’t think it’s justified for them to ban it just for those reasons. “
For Brianna Llamas, a sociology student, TikTok is a place where she can look for recommendations for new books, runway shows, and fashion ideas, but at the same time, she explained, it’s also a place where users can express themselves freely. .
“What this means to me is simply a way for other young people to post short content and express themselves in a way that I don’t want to be too deep like YouTube or Instagram,” Llamas said.
Unlike Garcia, Llamas believes the privacy of his knowledge may potentially be at risk, expressing considerations about TikTok’s use of his user knowledge.
“I’ve heard of a lot of articles saying ‘this has been revealed’ or ‘this has been leaked,’ and I know there have been several occasions where TikTok as a whole has been found to be hiding something or putting content underneath,” Llamas said. “What else can you do for me to know?”
Llamas noted that banning TikTok could have a negative effect on students who create and view content on the platform, as CPP has its own TikTok community and Llamas sees it as an engaging way for students to interact.
“I’ve noticed a lot of TikTok interviews that other people have with academics on campus, and I think it’s a fun way to interact with other people,” Llamas said. “Getting rid of TikTok is like wasting that little online network that other people have. “
Despite the negative effect that the TikTok ban could have on the CPP network, Llamas said the House’s decision to pass the bill is justified, as data privacy is a sensitive and important issue in the use of social media.
“I know something has happened before and those issues still haven’t been constant or resolved,” Llamas said. “Obviously, TikTok doesn’t care about those issues; it’s kind of their fault. “
Since no Senate resolution has yet been adopted, TikTok’s long track record as a platform in the United States is uncertain. However, some senators have requested a public hearing on the House bill before the vote.
“I feel like it’s such a minor issue, to the point that I feel like the public voice is impacting simply because it’s affecting a lot of people’s livelihoods,” Garcia said. “I have a feeling the Senate will look at it. “, or at least I hope so. “
Feature symbol courtesy of Lauren Wong
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