Take A Deeper Look.
TikTok, the world’s leading short-form video app, is under fire with bans in several countries due to privacy fears. Could this be the start of stricter global controls on social media? What does this mean for the future of digital freedom?
TikTok’s rapid rise from a niche lip-syncing app to a global social media powerhouse is a remarkable occurrence that has introduced a unique approach to content creation and consumption. Launched in 2017 by ByteDance and merging with Musical.ly in 2018, its popularity soared during the COVID-19 pandemic as users embraced dance challenges, DIY projects, trends, and online shopping as creative outlets during lockdowns. By 2024, with over 2.6 billion downloads and 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok had become a key platform for music and marketing, offering brands an innovative way to connect with audiences alongside Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms.
In Hong Kong, despite being owned by a Chinese company, TikTok withdrew from the market in 2020 following the enactment of the national security law, which imposed stringent regulations on online platforms. Although they didn’t clearly state why they chose to withdraw, their decision was greatly influenced by this law. Under it, authorities can request the removal of any content they believe violates national security. It also expanded what could be considered illegal, targeting dissent by criminalizing broadly defined acts like subversion, secession, and collusion with foreign forces, making it easier to prosecute protests or political advocacy.
In response to the law, many major Western tech companies, including Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter (now X), Telegram, Zoom, and LinkedIn, chose not to comply with data requests under it. They were concerned about the law’s impact on freedom of expression, a point emphasized by Google’s spokesperson as a fundamental human right. This shows that TikTok was not the only company affected by the law. However, they faced difficult decisions on how to balance legal obligations with their commitment to human rights, leading to mixed responses and concerns about the law’s potential to curb online expression.
Is this law really needed, or does it limit users’ freedom to express themselves online?
While the Hong Kong National Security Law has already had a significant impact on TikTok’s operations, concerns about security and data privacy are not limited to one country or region. In the United States, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a ban, citing national security risks. This led to a temporary shutdown of TikTok services in the U.S., causing users and content creators to be concerned. However, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, delaying the enforcement of the TikTok ban by 75 days to allow for further negotiations. As a result, TikTok began restoring its services in the U.S. after less than 24 hours of the shutdown.
The one-day ban on TikTok in the United States caused significant disruption for its millions of users, particularly content creators who relied on the platform for their businesses and daily engagement. Many creators took to other social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Xiaohongshu (RedNote), urging their followers to stay connected with them elsewhere. The brief suspension sparked a wave of frustration and sadness among users, with hashtags like #TikTokRefugee trending as people sought alternative spaces for content sharing and interaction. Farewell videos flooded TikTok as creators and users mourned the platform’s temporary absence. This event not only highlighted TikTok’s importance in the digital lives of Americans but also raised ongoing concerns about the app’s long-term accessibility in the country.
President Donald Trump has been actively seeking potential buyers for TikTok following the Supreme Court’s decision requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations to prevent a permanent ban. He stated that he is in discussions with multiple parties and expects a decision within 30 days, emphasizing the strong interest in the platform. Microsoft is reportedly in talks for a potential acquisition, marking its second attempt after an unsuccessful bid in 2020, while Oracle, backed by its founder Larry Ellison, is also considered a contender. Additionally, YouTube personality MrBeast and AI startup Perplexity AI have expressed interest, with the latter proposing a merger in which the U.S. government would receive a stake in the new company. These developments reflect ongoing efforts to secure TikTok’s future in the U.S. while addressing national security concerns.
But what are the major concerns behind the U.S. government’s opposition to TikTok, given its popularity among American users?
Despite ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, consistently denying any data sharing with Beijing, the U.S. government remains concerned due to China’s national security law, which forces Chinese companies to comply with government data requests. They are concerned that the app could be used by the Chinese government to access and misuse American users’ data.
In response to this, “Project Texas” was launched by TikTok in 2023 as part of their efforts to address U.S. concerns over data privacy and security. This aims to store U.S. user data on local servers and limit access to authorized personnel of the company in China. However, in July 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged that TikTok employees sent sensitive data to servers in China using Lark, the company’s internal messaging platform. This issue has fueled debates on TikTok’s data practices and how it became a threat to the security and privacy of its users.
What is the global perception of TikTok?
Globally, TikTok’s reception varied due to the growing concern about countries’ security and data privacy. With multiple breaches globally, country heads focus on precautionary steps to contain any suspicious activity from companies, applications, and networks.
In the UK, TikTok faced heavy resistance as debates on security and cybersecurity dug up questions about TikTok’s origin and features. To protect their citizens, Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, issued an immediate ban on the application of government-issued devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Coupled with the restrictions, the UK also lobbied for the public to uninstall the application from their devices. Following this move from the UK, other European countries, such as France, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway, followed suit with a ban on government-issued devices, citing security and data privacy concerns.
On the other hand, Latin American countries such as El Salvador view TikTok favorably as its leaders see the massive reach and growing user base as a tappable channel for information. In Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile, the application is used to spread the government’s progress checks on official projects and connect with the citizens, all following the short-form content format. With the benefits of TikTok for connecting and spreading information, these Latin American countries continue to utilize this platform for official duties or content.
In Asia, aside from Hong Kong, the growing user base in the Philippines is a clear sign of TikTok’s popularity against other platforms. However, government officials consider TikTok a security risk and consider banning it on all government-issued devices as a countermeasure. For general consumption, the Philippines continues to monitor any changes within TikTok.
Is TikTok here to stay?
What does this mean for the future of digital freedom?
With the growing concerns regarding security and data privacy and the varying stances of countries worldwide, it’s safe to say that the growth of digital freedom will suffer a few setbacks. The scope of the setbacks can be challenging to predict, ranging from regulations that hinder the public’s ability to practice their digital freedom to permanent bans of platforms or companies that threaten security and data privacy.
Despite that, one can’t deny TikTok’s popularity among brands. According to GWI’s report on TikTok, the application succeeds because of its unique channel that connects content creators and influencers to a broader audience. This discovery no longer applies to the public as C-suite professionals now utilize the application to learn about products or brands and to follow companies in the same industry.
With TikTok’s ability to optimize its platform for short-form content and provide easy-to-access channels, it is no surprise that it continues to hold its position as one of the top social media content platforms. More discussions will be like those in Hong Kong, the U.S., and the Philippines, where security and data privacy compete against digital freedom, affecting TikTok itself.
Once a permanent resolution happens, this could cause a sudden shift and open multiple possibilities: the birth of platforms geared towards short-form content, the migration of TikTok creators and their following to these new platforms, and deeper investigations and conversations about digital freedom on a global scale. But there’s one thing we can’t deny: TikTok left a considerable mark on social media and is here to stay for a while.