In the USA, TikTok is not only facing a ban, the platform is also coming under scrutiny due to concerns about children’s data protection. And trouble is looming in the EU too. An overview of the criticism of the video platform.
By Sarah Ben Bornia, tagesschau.de
The short video app TikTok is once again in the crossfire of the US authorities. This time, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking action against the popular video platform. The accusation: TikTok has violated a US law on data protection for children. Talks between the video platform and the FTC have been going on for a year, but now legal action is being taken. TikTok denies all allegations.
What is particularly noteworthy is that such proceedings are usually not made public, but the FTC sees a strong public interest in the issue. However, the information remains thin. Neither TikTok nor the FTC wanted to disclose further details.
Possible ban on TikTok in the USA
The case is part of a series of legal disputes between TikTok and US authorities. In addition to the data protection allegations, the platform is under pressure to separate from its Chinese parent company ByteDance.
A recently passed US law is intended to enforce this. TikTok has one year to make a decision. In the US, there are fears that the Chinese side will exert too much influence. If TikTok does not separate itself from its parent company ByteDance, the short video app faces a ban in the US.
TikTok filed a lawsuit against the decision, citing freedom of speech. Many US TikTok creators supported this lawsuit. The company also stated that it had no interest in selling the app. It would rather close the app on the US market than sell it.
EU initiated formal proceedings
Meanwhile, European authorities are also expanding their investigations into TikTok. In February, the EU initiated formal proceedings against the app. There are suspicions that the platform promotes addictive behavior and that child protection is not sufficiently guaranteed.
In the spring, the EU issued an additional warning about a new version of the app called “TikTok Lite”. Users receive digital coins when they watch videos. These can then be exchanged for vouchers for various online services.
The new version of the app has already been launched in France and Spain. Despite the risks associated with the addictive effect, TikTok launched the new function “without effective risk reduction measures,” the EU Commission then announced. TikTok responded promptly, publishing a report on how it plans to minimize the risks and suspending the corresponding function.
Ban also possible in the EU?
The proceedings against TikTok are still ongoing. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that a ban on TikTok is also possible from the EU side if allegations are confirmed during the investigation.
This can happen very quickly. In 2020, India briefly imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps over privacy concerns. The companies concerned were given the opportunity to respond to questions about privacy and security requirements, but in 2021 the ban became permanent.
User numbers remain high
Despite all the controversy, the app’s popularity remains unbroken worldwide. With millions of users in the EU alone and a total of around one billion active users worldwide, TikTok continues to be one of the most important players among social networks.
However, if a ban does actually come into effect in the USA, competitors such as Facebook’s parent company Meta or YouTube could benefit considerably.