TikTok has been in the news a lot lately and the app even disappeared for a while in America. What’s going on?
TikTok disappeared (and back) in the US: here’s what’s going on
On January 19, it was a bit of a shock for many Americans. The popular video site suddenly stopped working. When you started the app you received a message that the app was not available. According to the message, the app went dark due to the introduction of new legislation.
ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, had to sell the American branch of the company to an American party before January 19. The company had not done this and therefore the app was no longer available.
Yet it was short-lived. Because less than 24 hours later, the app was again gradually made available. The app stated that ‘President Trump has indicated that he wants to work together to make the app available again’.
This is striking because four years ago Trump tried to introduce a TikTok ban. He was unable to do so at the time, but in the end it was Joe Biden’s government that (just) managed to do it. This administration has said that they will leave the implementation of the law to Trump.
Trump has now (as he often does) changed his opinion about TikTok. On his platform Truth Social, he said that on the day he takes office he will sign an order that will allow TikTok to remain on the air for 90 days longer.
Yet the banning of TikTok did not just come out of the blue. The CIA fears that TikTok is sharing the data of American citizens with the Chinese government. They also believe that China can influence users too much through the platform.
Tiktok said in a response that they do not have close ties to the Chinese government. The makers also say that the company is largely owned by international investors.
And in the Netherlands?
If TikTok is banned again in the US, you won’t notice much here in the Netherlands. Of course, many of the US videos may not be available, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the world can’t upload new videos.
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