Security Agencies Asked To Put Atiku, Others On Watchlist

 TikTok is on the brink of being banned in the United States, a fate experienced by several American social media giants attempting to penetrate the Chinese market.

On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives approved a bill that could lead to TikTok's prohibition in the country unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app to an entity satisfying the US government's requirements.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin criticized the move, stating it contradicts principles of fair competition and international economic rules during a briefing on Thursday.

Conversely, American social media platforms have long been restricted in China, with Beijing blocking access to major platforms such as Google, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for failing to comply with Chinese regulations on data handling and content censorship.

Google notably withdrew from mainland China in 2010, citing censorship concerns and cyberattacks originating from China.

Fast forward a decade, the tables have turned, though circumstances differ. Brock Silvers, managing director at Kaiyuan Capital, remarked on the irony of China's response given its treatment of American social apps.

Attention now shifts to the US Senate, where lawmakers are evaluating the legislation. President Joe Biden has signaled his readiness to sign the bill if it passes.

Concerns over TikTok's potential national security risks have long been raised by US officials and legislators, including fears of data sharing with the Chinese government and content manipulation. TikTok has consistently refuted these allegations.

Following the House vote, the Chinese Commerce Ministry pledged to take "all necessary measures" to protect its interests regarding TikTok.

China has vehemently opposed the forced sale of TikTok, asserting its legal authority to intervene. The government views TikTok's technology as strategically important and has taken steps to ensure it can block any sale by ByteDance.

The platform's algorithms, central to its success, are anticipated to be a point of contention. Winston Ma, adjunct professor at New York University School of Law, highlighted ByteDance's obligation to seek Beijing's approval before selling advanced technologies.

The ongoing tech and trade tensions between Beijing and Washington are likely to exacerbate with this development, with potential retaliatory actions against US firms, according to Silvers.

The uncertain fate of TikTok amid geopolitical tensions continues to unfold.