The United States continues to debate whether or not to ban TikTok. Security and privacy issues exist on one hand, and freedom of speech and abuse of authority by the government issues exist on the other. Many U.S. officials and lawmakers believe that TikTok potentially serves as a tool for the Chinese government to gather sensitive data that belong to U.S. citizens. Many believe that the Chinese government has the ability to use data from TikTok to access personal information and even influence U.S. politics through its algorithm. The International Emergency Economic Powers Acts and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States have all been invoked in order to carefully examine the potential risks of using apps such as TikToks, which are owned by foreign organizations. On the other side, those against the TikTok ban see this as a censorship of freedom and expression. Similar to other social media platforms, TikTok can serve as an avenue for self-expression. Hence, to take this away, in their eyes, would surely be censorship at its worst order. Many critics note that any efforts to regulate TikTok in a legal framework must work to make the ban transparent, not just wholly wipe out the app. Many people believe that banning TikTok will kill not only innovation, but also economic opportunity, as this app has opened many avenues for millions of small businesses, artists, and influencers. The dispute on the legal status of TikTok weighs heavily between two beliefs: protection of data is crucial, but freedom of expression must be kept in mind as well. Those who are in favor of the ban want U.S. residents to be safeguarded from foreign influence, and they want their data protected as well. Meanwhile, those opposed to the ban feel that their rights are at stake and there are alternatives to banning TikTok.
