by Stevie Ryke (‘27)

Once again, TikTok may acquire a ban.  Everything began in 2020 when Donald Trump ordered Chinese owners to sell the app.  However, TikTok updated rules to exclude sensitive information from exposure.  Well, four years later, everything is starting again.

Byte Dance is the parent company of TikTok, located in Beijing, China.  TikTok has 150 American users, pushing Western governments to worry that Chinese authorities could force TikTok to hand over information regarding American users.  Regardless, the United States government has zero proof that TikTok threatens national security. Furthermore, non-Chinese investors hold 60% of Byte Dance shares.

Even so, America has grounds to worry.  China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law forces any organization to hand over privileged information regarding state intelligence work. State intelligence involves collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information that could benefit a nation’s government or military. Typically, this information serves national security and foreign relations purposes.  Secondly, the 2014 Counter-Espionage Law explains that relevant organizations can’t refuse to provide relevant information regarding an investigation.  Mainly, the law prohibits the spread of any information relating to national security.  But, it provides an increased emphasis on countering espionage.

If asked, Byte Life would have to comply with the Chinese government to provide information relating to TikTok users.  However, this doesn’t imply they have conveyed privileged information simply because they could.  But, AP News explains, “The authorities also can threaten to cancel licenses, conduct regulatory or tax investigations and use other penalties to compel compliance by Chinese and foreign companies operating in China.” 

Chew, TikTok’s CEO, claims the United States user’s data resides within the United States, beyond China’s reach.  “Project Texas” stores data on servers by an outside contractor.  Chew insists “Project Texas” is outside China’s reach.  TikTok’s head of security for Europe says Chinese employees have information regarding users in Britain and The European Union, raising the question: could they have American users’ information?

Douyin is Byte Dance’s version of TikTok in China.  On this version, there are more restrictions on the kind of information that users can view.  Interestingly, The Communist Party blocks access to TikTok in China.  This raises the question: why would TikTok be outlawed in China if there was nothing wrong with the content?  TikTok hangs in the delicate balance of international scrutiny and digital frontiers.