Weekend roundup: The 'ban TikTok' movement is growing

Is this warranted? Exaggerated?

Image by M. H. from Pixabay (with added black and white filter)

The popular video-based social media platform TikTok has faced criticism for years at this point. The Bytedance-owned property became the most downloaded app in the U.S. in late 2018 which coincidently increased scrutiny by the political class.

Lately, various governments around the world have banned the app on civil servants’ phones. The primary (announced or perceived) rationale for this, is that the Chinese Communist Party could get access to sensitive data from foreign citizens.

Are the restrictions warranted? Exaggerated? Are we going towards a full ban of the app in the Western world?

The articles below will make you think.

TikTok ban: Is this pointless? (link)

Matt Matt Berg and Alexander Ward of Politico debate the usefulness and feasibility of a total ban in the U.S.

Why is TikTok being restricted on government phones in the United States and elsewhere? (link)

This AP report courtesy of Haleluya Hadero details TikTok restrictions in the U.S. as well as other countries.

Canada: TikTok ban will limit opposition leaders' social media reach (link)

Very interesting perspective on the use of TikTok by Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre and New Democratic party leader Jagmeet Singh. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, relies less on the app (via Jenna Zucker of Reuters).