TikTok: US Pushes Company Sale, Divest Amidst Issues with Security on Social Media App

There is a massive issue against TikTok at the present, and it is because of the national security concerns in the US for its social media operations in the country that might be bordering on Chinese espionage. And while this is under a microscope from regulators, there are certain US agencies and departments that aim for its American operations to sell to other companies.

TikTok Faces Pressure from the US for its Operations in the Country

The Wall Street Journal reported the claims from anonymous sources from the Biden administration regarding its sale to western companies for its continued operations in the country.

These officials want to ensure that TikTok will not be used by the Chinese government for espionage, one that uses the country's data for their gains, also pointing out "political influence."

Currently, there is a growing national security concern against TikTok and its operations, especially with its mishandling of user data which is currently under investigation.

However, it is not the only time TikTok faced this issue as the previous Trump leadership put massive pressure on the app for ByteDance to sell for a US-based company.

TikTok US Sale: Chinese Ownership to US Company?

Before, the company and the country settled for Oracle taking over TikTok's management for the US, Canada, and Australia operations, but it seems like this is not enough for the present.

According to CNET, negotiations with the Chinese company and the Biden administration for TikTok's operations were put on hold due to national security concerns regarding the app.

TikTok and its National Security Concerns

TikTok is still facing scrutiny over its operations in the country regarding national security concerns for its practices in handling the data of millions of Americans using the app. There even was a bipartisan warning made to the social media platform regarding its operations, especially as two US senators went as far as to call it a "Chinese surveillance tool."

There are still massive concerns against TikTok's data handling and practices, and the United States is only one of the many that investigates the platform for this, and it includes the EU.

The FBI issued a warning that apps could use user data for different applications, and go as far as using them as something to harm users, provided their access. In the worst-case scenario, apps could allegedly weaponize user data and use it as a tool to gain power over them, with TikTok's operations one of the suspected national security threats.

For now, TikTok remains under heavy pressure from the United States to push forth with its sale to American companies for its operations in the country. In this way, the data that it collects remains to the US instead of the alleged Chinese espionage taking place behind the scenes.

Still, the future is unknown for TikTok, especially as it already faces bans in multiple states for its presence on government devices.