The US Congress has approved a law this week that could potentially lead to a ban on TikTok in the US. This legislation was passed amidst growing concerns on Chinese influence and the impact of social media on young people.
Under the law, TikTok parent company ByteDance has two options: either sell TikTok to an approved US firm within nine months, or face a potential ban in the country. Unsurprisingly, TikTok pushed back and will challenge the law in court.
Our Statement on Enactment of the TikTok Ban:
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) April 24, 2024
This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court. We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S.…
This situation is particularly sensitive considering TikTok’s immense popularity. It could also set a precedent for how governments worldwide handle big tech firms like this.
In the Philippines, talks of a potential ban was considered last year due to concerns on national security. It eventually led to the prohibition of military personel from using the app. The recent developments could reignite similar discussions in the country.
TikTok is banned in India, Iran, Senegal, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Somalia. The Chinese social media platform is also not available in China (they have Douyin instead).
TikTok has over 1.5 billion users worldwide, according to Sprout Social. Of that number around 49 million are from the Philippines.
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