I was an avid supporter of TikTok when it faced threats of being shut down by the Trump administration in 2020. Back then, I argued against the ban, stating that it would cause more harm than good. I believed TikTok was being unfairly targeted for issues that were common among social media platforms, and I never bought into the idea that it was a tool for Chinese espionage.
However, as a bipartisan bill to force ByteDance to sell TikTok gained momentum in Congress recently, I have started to reconsider my stance. Despite my reservations about the vague claims against TikTok, the company’s response to the bill and its history of unaddressed concerns have raised red flags.
Over the years, TikTok has failed to address concerns about its ties to the Chinese government. While it has made efforts to appear transparent, such as Project Texas and the Transparency and Accountability Center, these initiatives have fallen short of assuaging fears. The company’s dismissive attitude towards critics and its lack of concrete action to prove its independence from ByteDance have only fueled skepticism.
Moreover, TikTok’s questionable practices, such as surveilling U.S. journalists, sharing user data, and restricting information about sensitive topics, have raised concerns about its operations. While similar practices occur in American tech companies, foreign-owned businesses like TikTok are held to higher standards due to their potential political influence.
Given TikTok’s size and influence, its response to the congressional bill and its attempts to influence American politics have pushed me towards supporting a forced sale. Whether TikTok will be banned remains uncertain, but the company’s actions have made it clear that it needs to do more to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and independence.
If TikTok avoids a forced sale, it must work harder to distance itself from ByteDance convincingly. However, if a sale is mandated, TikTok will have to take responsibility for its missteps and learn from its mistakes.
