The Chinese government has said it would oppose any possible move by the United States to force the Chinese owner of the popular short-video app, TikTok, to sell the company, stating that such a move would hurt investor confidence in the US, according to a report by AP on Thursday, March 23.
This announcement comes amidst growing concerns that the app, which has over 1 billion users worldwide, could pose a security risk, with governments fearing that the app's owner, ByteDance, could give browsing history or other data about users to the Chinese government or promote propaganda and disinformation.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: In this photo illustration, a TikTok logo is displayed on an iPhone on February 28, 2023 in London, England. This week, the US government and European Union's parliament have announced bans on installing the popular social media app on staff devices.
"Resolutely Oppose It"
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the US authorities were considering banning TikTok if ByteDance does not sell the social media company.
If true, China's Ministry of Commerce has made it clear that it will "resolutely oppose it," said Shu Jueting, a ministry spokeswoman. However, she did not indicate what action Beijing might take.
Shu went on to say that if the US government forced ByteDance to sell TikTok, it would "seriously damage investors from multiple countries, including China" and hurt "confidence to invest in the United States."
This statement highlights the potential impact that such a move could have on global investors, not just in the US, but also in other countries that may be watching this situation closely.
TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is set to make a high-profile appearance before the US Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday, to address concerns over the app's potential security risks.
Chew is expected to highlight that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users, and will deny any allegations that the app poses a national security risk.
However, the United States, Britain, and New Zealand have already banned the use of TikTok on government-issued phones, despite these assurances. Moreover, India has already banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps, including the WeChat messaging service, on security and privacy grounds.
TikTok Ban Trend
The potential ban on TikTok follows a trend of countries worldwide taking measures to address national security concerns related to Chinese technology companies. As tensions between China and the West continue to increase, it remains to be seen what the future holds for TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps.
In related news, BBC has also recommended its staff to delete TikTok from company devices. The news outlet issued new guidelines that forbid using the app on any company-owned gadgets.
According to the BBC, TikTok should be removed from these phones if employees will not need it for work-related purposes. This comes after the government of the United Kingdom banned the social media app amid security concerns.
Related Article: Experts Say TikTok Ban on Australian Government-issued Phones Should Also Apply To Other Social Media Apps
