As the US prepares for a Supreme Court hearing to decide TikTok’s fate – and the worldwide debate over data privacy and national security continues to heat up – should the UK follow suit and consider banning the app?
As the United States edges closer to a pivotal decision on whether to ban TikTok, we’re asking if you think the UK should follow suit and consider ditching it too?
If the law goes through, the popular social media platform will ‘go dark’ across the US on Sunday, marking a significant step in the ongoing global debate surrounding data privacy, national security, and the influence of foreign-owned social media platforms.
The UK government has already banned TikTok on government devices over cybersecurity concerns, but there is no indication yet that we will follow the US in considering a full ban. But do you think we should?
Launched in 2016, with its personalised feeds of quirky short videos often set to music and sound effects, TikTok rapidly became a cultural phenomenon, with millions of users across the UK sharing videos, trends, and creative content every day.
The app has transformed entertainment, advertising, and even social activism. But the growing concerns over the platform’s data practices and its ties to the Chinese government have sparked debates across the globe.
Critics argue TikTok could be used as a tool for espionage or influence, while others contend that banning it would infringe upon free speech and limit creative expression.
If you can’t see the poll, click here
In April last year, American lawmakers passed legislation – signed by President Biden – that would ban TikTok in the US unless parent company ByteDance sold the platform within a year.
It has been reported that Chinese officials were considering selling TikTok’s US operations to Elon Musk, who is co-leading a newly-constituted Department of Government Efficiency in Trump’s cabinet. But according to Bloomberg News, a TikTok spokesperson said: “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
Do you think banning TikTok in the UK is a necessary measure to protect privacy and national security? Take our poll above and expand on your feelings in the comments.