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☆ TikTok: Is it really Chinese?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Is TikTok Chinese? In March 2023, CEO Chew was repeatedly pressed by US lawmakers on whether TikTok was Chinese. According to TikTok’s own website, its subsidiaries around the world are all structured under Bytedance Ltd.Is ByteDance Chinese? At last year’s congressional hearing, Chew didn’t directly answer any questions about whether ByteDance is a Chinese company either. That means the Chinese government now owns 1% of Beijing Douyin Information Service, which is the domestic Chinese unit of Bytedance.

Persons: TikTok, Shou Chew, Trump, Chew, Jose Luis Magana, Musical.ly, TikTok’s, ByteDance, Zhang Yiming, Liang Rubo, Zhang, Liang, Jinri, Chew didn’t, Shannon Stapleton, Zhang Fuping, Xi Jinping, Wu Shugang, Shu Yuting Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, TikTok LLC, TikTok Ltd, ByteDance Ltd, Bytedance Ltd, Tianjin’s Nankai University, ByteDance, Carlyle Group, General Atlantic, Susquehanna International Group, Reuters, Communist, Cyberspace Administration, Beijing Douyin Information Service, Chinese Communist Party, National Intelligence Law, Commerce Ministry Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, California, Los Angles, Singapore, Delaware, Culver City , California, Cayman Islands, Shanghai, Chinese, TikTok

☆ The proposed TikTok ban has been deemed unconstitutional by some, but framing around national security could help advance it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThe widely-popular social media app TikTok is once again facing a possible ban in the United States over concerns about its links to China. "It is targeted to address the national security threat that we believe these apps, like TikTok, pose to the United States because of its ownership by a foreign adversary." "The First Amendment protects Americans' right to access social media platforms of their choosing," Krishnan said. Former President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Okla. AP Photo/Sue OgrockiTrump once supported a TikTok ban, but is now against itMeanwhile, Trump — whose administration tried to ban TikTok in the US — but was blocked from doing so in court after TikTok sued — has now come out against a ban for the app. "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business," Trump argued on his social media platform, Truth Social, in a dig at Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Sarah Kreps, TikTok's, weaponize, Steve Scalise, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, McMorris Rodgers, Kreps, ByteDance, Krishnan, TikTok, Sue Ogrocki Trump, Trump, Zuckerschmuck, Mark Zuckerberg, Jenna Leventoff, Leventoff Organizations: Service, Business, Tech, Institute, New York's Cornell University, Foreign, ByteDance Ltd, Republican, GOP, House Energy, Commerce Committee, Fox Business, Columbia University, Columbia Law School, Chinese Communist Party, AP, Facebook, Meta, Commerce, American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy and Technology Locations: United States, China, TikTok's Beijing, New York, Tulsa, Okla, TikTok

☆ Indonesia's GoTo denies merger talks with ride-hailing rival Grab
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Photographer: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesIndonesian tech giant GoTo on Tuesday denied it is in merger discussions with Singapore-based ride-hailing rival Grab . "The company would also like to emphasize that currently, the company is not having any discussion on such matters," said GoTo in a Tuesday filing. "The company would like to emphasize that the company has an increasingly strong fundamentals and financial position," said GoTo. The firm added that it has achieved "positive adjusted EBITDA target in Q4 2023, while exceeding the top end of its full year adjusted EBITDA guidance range." Grab closed 1.2% lower on the Nasdaq on Tuesday amid a broader sell-off in U.S. markets.

Persons: Indonesia's GoTo, Dimas Ardian, GoTo Organizations: ByteDance, Indonesia's, Bloomberg, Getty, Nasdaq Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Singapore, U.S

That's even as he's accused Beijing of pushing TikTok as “digital fentanyl” to Americans and wants the app banned entirely. A spokeswoman for Ramaswamy's campaign defended both the decision to join TikTok and Ramaswamy's criticisms that the app is dangerous. While he is trying to make himself attractive to younger voters, Ramaswamy has promoted policy ideas that would directly target them. It creates short clips criticizing and mocking Republicans and recycles Biden clips originally posted on other social media networks such as Instagram. “I’m hopeful that as more younger conservative candidates run for office, they’ll embrace social media more and be more comfortable with it," she said.

Persons: TikTok, Vivek Ramaswamy, he's, ” Ramaswamy, ”, Tricia McLaughlin, “, Ramaswamy, —, ByteDance, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden’s, recycles Biden, Ryan Calo, Calo, ” Calo, Trump, John Brabender, ” Brabender, Brabender, Clarkson Lawson, Lawson, ” Erica Choinka, Choinka, we’ve, we’re, ” ___ Kinnard, Gomez Licon, Michelle L, Price, Linley Sanders Organizations: U.S, Washington, ByteDance Ltd, Authorities, Democratic National Committee, University of Washington, GOP, Trump, Las, Associated Press Locations: China, Beijing, U.S, France, Iraq, Las Vegas, Florida, Columbia , South Carolina, Miami, New York, Washington

☆ TikTok Ban in Montana Faces Speed Bump as Governor Seeks Changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Meghan Bobrowsky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte previously banned TikTok on all government-issued devices. Photo: Thom Bridge/Associated PressMontana’s governor is asking legislators to make changes to a bill that would be the first in the U.S. to ban TikTok outright, according to a draft of the amended bill language viewed by The Wall Street Journal. The changes would broaden the ban from applying specifically to TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance Ltd., and cover social-media applications that provide certain data to foreign adversaries, according to the proposed bill language.

☆ Montana governor seeks changes to bill that would ban TikTok outright - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 25 (Reuters) - Montana Governor Greg Gianforte is asking legislators to make changes to a bill that would be the first in the United States to ban TikTok outright, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The changes would broaden the ban from applying specifically to TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance Ltd, and cover social-media applications that provide certain data to foreign adversaries, the report said, citing a draft of the amended bill language. Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Portuguese NGO sues TikTok, says platform 'profits from children'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The lawsuit came a day after Britain's data watchdog said it had fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($15.81 million) for breaching data protection law, including by using the personal data of children without parental consent. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told Portuguese newspaper Publico in a statement that protecting its users and their data was of "utmost importance". Ius Omnibus claims TikTok ends up collecting and processing children's personal data in breach of Portugal's constitution, the European Union's general data protection regulation and the unfair commercial practices law. Despite TikTok's age limit, it "does not implement mechanisms to prevent registration" by users aged below 13, the group said. In a separate lawsuit, it claims users older than 13 are also victims of "misleading business practices" and that certain personal data is used without their full consent.

☆ TikTok Fined $15.8 Million by U.K. Regulator for Misuse of Children’s Data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.K. authorities have fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds, equivalent to $15.8 million, for breaching the country’s data-protection laws, including the misuse of children’s information. The social-media platform, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance Ltd., failed to get consent from the parents of children on its platform and didn’t do enough to remove underage users, the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office said Tuesday.

☆ Australia bans TikTok on government devices over security concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The logo of Chinese-owned video app TikTok is seen on a smartphone in front of an image of the Australian national flag in this illustration picture taken April 4, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/IllustrationSYDNEY, April 4 (Reuters) - Australia banned TikTok on Tuesday from all federal government-owned devices over security concerns, becoming the latest U.S.-allied country to take action against the Chinese-owned video app. TikTok's Australia and New Zealand General Manager Lee Hunter said TikTok should not be singled out. "Things are going well, but of course, it'll take some time to turn this ship around," Trade Minister Don Farrell told Sky News, referring to prospects for improving trade relations. TikTok has said the administration of President Joe Biden demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential U.S. ban.

☆ Australia Bans TikTok From Government Devices Amid Security Concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Stuart Condie | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY—Australia said it will ban TikTok on all government-issued digital devices, following the U.S. and other intelligence-sharing allies in response to concerns about data security on the app. The decision announced by Australia’s attorney general means all members of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance have restricted government access to the video-sharing app through full or partial bans. Lawmakers worry that the Chinese government could force TikTok parent ByteDance Ltd. to hand over user data, or to influence the videos they view.

☆ Lawmakers’ Drive to Rein In TikTok Intensifies After CEO’s Testimony
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—Momentum in Congress to crack down on TikTok is growing after the chief executive of the social-media company failed to win over lawmakers in a marathon hearing, though lawmakers are divided on what path to take. Republicans and Democrats pounced on TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, his company and its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance Ltd., in the hearing Thursday. Over five hours, lawmakers seemed dissatisfied with Mr. Chew’s answers on Beijing’s potential influence over the video-sharing app, as well as concerns about the effect that the app’s algorithm has on teens and young adults.

☆ China Says It Opposes a Forced Sale of TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A TikTok advertisement at Union Station in Washington, D.C., addresses user security and privacy concerns. BEIJING—China said it would strongly oppose any forced sale of TikTok, responding for the first time to a Biden administration demand that the video app divest itself from its Beijing-based parent ByteDance Ltd. or face a nationwide ban. China’s Commerce Ministry said Thursday that a forced sale by Washington could damage the confidence of Chinese investors in the U.S. and said any sale or spinoff of TikTok would involve technology-export issues that would need to be handled according to Chinese law and with the approval of the Chinese government.

☆ TikTok Reassures Advertisers Over Ban Threat as Some Set Backup Plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Patience Haggin | Suzanne Vranica | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TikTok has sought to reassure advertisers in recent days that the app is unlikely to be banned in the U.S., according to people familiar with the situation, as some companies begin to make contingency plans for their ad spending. The Biden administration has raised national security concerns about TikTok and is demanding that its Chinese owners sell their stakes in the popular video-sharing app or face a possible ban, The Wall Street Journal reported. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd.

Courts blocked a prior bid by the Trump administration to ban the app in part on the grounds that such a move violated free speech protections. Courts struck down former President Donald Trump's bid to block TikTok in 2020 with an executive order that granted the Commerce Department similar authorities as the RESTRICT act. But the bill will likely provide no immediate solutions for those calling for a ban on the app. Some experts said using the new legal tools to ban TikTok could still invite First Amendment challenges. "And there will most likely be a legal challenge if its used to ban TikTok."

☆ U.S. State-Government Websites Use TikTok Trackers, Review Finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Byron Tau | Dustin Volz | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—More than two dozen state governments have placed web-tracking code made by TikTok parent ByteDance Ltd. on official websites, according to a new report from a cybersecurity company, illustrating the difficulties U.S. regulators face in curtailing data-collection efforts by the popular Chinese-owned app. A review of the websites of more than 3,500 companies, organizations and government entities by the Toronto-based company Feroot Security found that so-called tracking pixels from the TikTok parent company were present in 30 U.S. state-government websites across 27 states, including some where the app has been banned from state networks and devices. Feroot collected the data in January and February of this year.

☆ TikTok’s Chinese Parent Has Another Wildly Popular App in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Raffaele Huang | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

One of the hottest apps in the U.S. right now is TikTok’s lesser-known sibling that is also owned by Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd.App trackers show that CapCut, a video-editing tool that helps people quickly create online videos and memes, has been downloaded more in recent weeks than TikTok, the short-video sharing app that has faced rigorous scrutiny in the U.S. over ByteDance’s access to user data.

☆ New Zealand Bans TikTok From Parliamentary Devices, Citing Security Risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( James Glynn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

New Zealand plans to ban TikTok downloads on all digital devices linked to its parliament. SYDNEY—New Zealand said it would ban TikTok on all digital devices linked to its parliament, joining the U.S. and some allies in limiting the use of the China-owned video-sharing app. The decision by New Zealand’s Parliamentary Service is part of a broadening of a political campaign against TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., in countries that share intelligence with Washington. Still, it stops short of a governmentwide ban, with individual departments in New Zealand left to decide whether their employees can install the app.

☆ Justice Department Probes TikTok’s Tracking of U.S. Journalists
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Sadie Gurman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Justice Department is investigating the surveillance of American journalists by TikTok’s Chinese owners, a person familiar with the matter said, a revelation that comes as the Biden administration has shifted toward a tougher approach to address the perceived security threat from the video-sharing app. The federal investigation began after the Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. in December acknowledged that its employees misused their authority to access the data of journalists in an effort to identify leaks of confidential company information.

☆ Justice Department Probes TikTok’s Tracking Of U.S. Journalists
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Sadie Gurman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Eric Lee for The Wall Street JournalThe Justice Department opens the probe as the Biden administration shifts to a tougher approach toward the video-sharing app. The Justice Department is investigating the surveillance of American journalists by TikTok’s Chinese owners, a person familiar with the matter said, a revelation that comes as the Biden administration has shifted toward a tougher approach to address the perceived security threat from the video-sharing app. The federal investigation began after the Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. in December acknowledged that its employees misused their authority to access the data of journalists in an effort to identify leaks of confidential company information.

☆ TikTok Ramps Up Lobbying in Washington to Try to Avoid U.S. Ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Julie Bykowicz | Siobhan Hughes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Oracle Corp. has dozens of the most aggressive and well-connected lobbyists in Washington. Lobbyists for Oracle Corp. have been racing to build Capitol Hill support for TikTok’s proposed partnership with the Austin-based tech company as a solution to the U.S. government’s security concerns. Their roughly 90-person lobbying roster adds considerable firepower to TikTok’s growing Washington presence. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance Ltd., has spent more each year since it began lobbying in 2019, for a total of $13.5 million through the end of last year, lobbying records show. It now has the fourth-highest federal lobbying expenses of any internet company, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan platform tracking political spending.

☆ Why Is the U.S. Threatening to Ban TikTok?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Stu Woo | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Biden administration has told TikTok its Chinese owners must sell their stakes in the company or else face a nationwide ban on the app. Officials and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they are concerned the Chinese government could gain access to Americans’ user data, or could influence what Americans see on the app. The short-form video platform owned by Beijing-headquartered ByteDance Ltd. became a hit during the pandemic, growing to more than 100 million American users and winning ad dollars from U.S. businesses.

☆ U.S. Threatens to Ban TikTok if Chinese Founder Doesn’t Sell Ownership Stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( John D. Mckinnon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TikTok, which has an office in Culver City, Calif., says its $1.5 billion security plan would essentially wall off its U.S. operations, with all data being stored in the U.S.WASHINGTON—The Biden administration is demanding that TikTok’s Chinese owners sell their stakes in the video-sharing app or face a possible U.S. ban of the app, according to people familiar with the matter. The move represents a major shift in policy on the part of the administration, which has been under fire from some Republicans who say it hasn’t taken a tough enough stance to address the perceived security threat from TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd.

☆ U.S. Threatens Ban if TikTok’s Chinese Owners Don’t Sell Stakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( John D. Mckinnon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—The Biden administration is demanding that TikTok’s Chinese owners sell their stakes in the video-sharing app or face a possible U.S. ban of the app, according to people familiar with the matter. The move represents a major shift in policy on the part of the administration, which has been under fire from some Republicans who say it hasn’t taken a tough enough stance to address the perceived security threat from TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd.

☆ UK's National Cyber Security Centre reviewing TikTok risks, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's National Cyber Security Centre is reviewing whether Chinese-owned video app TikTok should be banned from government phones, security minister Tom Tugendhat said on Tuesday. TikTok has come under increasing focus over fears that user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests. "That's why I've asked the National Cyber Security Centre to look into this. Last week, the White House backed legislation to give the administration new powers to ban TikTok and other foreign-based technologies if they pose national security threats. And we will always do that and take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that happens," he added.

Bans on TikTok on government-issued devices in the U.S., the European Union and Canada are prompting lawmakers in some of Washington’s main intelligence-sharing allies to demand that their countries follow suit. Australia and New Zealand haven’t banned TikTok across all government agencies, instead leaving it to individual departments to decide whether their employees can install the app. Australian government departments—including defense—prohibit the installation of TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., but some lawmakers say the lack of a blanket ban creates unnecessary national security risks.

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