US May Ban TikTok Without ByteDance Stake Sale

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The Facts

  • The Biden admin. has demanded ByteDance divest its stake in the video app TikTok or face a possible US ban. The move is the most dramatic in a series of recent steps taken by American officials and legislators concerned that user data could potentially be passed on to the PRC.

  • This policy change represents a major shift for the Biden administration, which has come under fire from some Republicans who allege that the admin. hasn't taken a tough enough stance on the perceived security threat posed by the app.

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The Spin

Anti-China narrative

TikTok developer ByteDance has come under increased scrutiny from governments and regulators over fears that Beijing could gain access to the company's database — something that could be used to potentially harvest users' data to spy on Western nations to advance China's interests. This dramatic move by the Biden administration demanding divestment or a nationwide ban on TikTok is based on well-founded security concerns.

Wall Street Journal

Pro-China narrative

The US government has not presented any meaningful evidence that the TikTok app poses a threat to national security. Instead, it has attempted to spread misinformation and unreasonably suppress legitimate private firms. The US crackdown on TikTok is nothing less than xenophobic bullying. They should stop the harassment and start providing a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies.

Global Times

Metaculus Prediction

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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