TikTok Ban Explained: Everything You Need to Know

Every government organization that has banned TikTok from devices has cited security concerns. The primary concern of each country is that the Chinese government may order ByteDance to hand over the data it collects about its users. Western governments are adamant that security interests will be exposed if the Chinese government can access user data.

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In TikTok’s Privacy PolicyIt states that when you create an account, upload content, or interact with the Platform in any way, TikTok can and will collect the following:

• Any account and profile information (name, age, username, phone number, profile image, email, and password).
• Any User-Generated Content (audio recordings, photos, comments and videos) uploaded to the App.
• direct message.
• Any information used to purchase something through the App (card number, name, information from third-party payment apps, billing and shipping address).
• your contacts.
• Your IP address, time zone, device ID, network type and your device model.
• Your approximate location and, with your permission, your exact location.

according to a study From the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Internet Governance Project, TikTok’s data harvesting is in line with social-networking industry norms. However, TikTok’s possible ties to the Chinese government make it a point of concern.

Although TikTok’s data gathering techniques are common, if the data it collects about US users falls into the wrong hands, it is enough information to adequately study their digital footprints.

The US government can also access and acquire user data From US-based tech companies such as Google, Meta, Microsoft and Apple. However, US tech companies can deny or push back on government requests to access user data. In order to operate in China, Chinese tech companies must always provide data to the government upon request.

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Some governments are concerned about the geopolitical consequences if the Chinese government accessed so much Western user data. This can be especially worrisome if government officials give away their personal data with the approval of sensitive and classified information — and that’s why the ban is being enforced on federal government-issued devices.