Is TikTok Getting Banned? Maybe

TikTok will soon banned on governmental devices in various countries, including France, Canada, the U.S., U.K, and many other countries. . Furthermore, the app has been banned for use by federal employees and state employees in 34 out of 50 states in the United States. For more general use, it’s already officially banned in Afghanistan and India. But why is that the case?

If you want to know why TikTok is getting banned and in what countries, you’re in the right place. This article will explain everything you need to know.

The White House Stance

On February 27 of this year, the White House told federal agencies that they had 30 days to delete the app from government devices. On March 17, the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into TikTok regarding allegations that the company spied on American journalists.

Simply put, TikTok is getting banned by various governmental organizations due to security concerns. In recent months, governmental bodies in the United States, Canada, and Europe have increased efforts to restrict access to the app, citing similar security threats. In response, TikTok sued the state of Montana in the U.S. from banning the app, in attempt to stop a form of prohibition that is the first of its kind in the nation.

Chinese Fears

The greatest fear of these countries is that the Chinese government could order ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, to hand over the data collected about is users. This information could then be used against these countries in areas of propaganda and misinformation.

The Biden administration wants ByteDance to sell the app or face consequences of being banned over national security concerns. The idea is the if the app is sold to an American company, both China and America would have the right to monitor the app. As a result, the issue of security wouldn’t be as alarming as both countries would be able to put checks in place.

The administration has been largely non-committal recently, though the White House has made its views known in response to questions about TikTok. It is important to note that TikTok has been in contact with the administration’s review team and the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States for many years. Whether or not they will be able to come up with a compromise remains unclear. What’s certain is that many users who enjoy the apps fun features may soon be denied the privilege of using the platform.

Potential Measures

One of the measures to limit TikTok’s influence was taken by the University of Texas. The college has blocked the app from campus Wi-Fi network. In the midst of the allegations against the TikTok and China as a country, Chinese officials and the state media organization sprang to the defense of TikTok’s chief executive. They called out members of congress on Capitol Hill in March on Twitter. Several tweets claimed that the lawmakers were “old, tech illiterate,” and “out of touch, paranoid, and self-righteous.”

However, proof that Beijing harvested TikTok’s commercial data for intelligence or other reasons has never been made public. TikTok’s CEO has publicly stated that Chinese government has never asked TikTok for data, and that the company would refuse any request of that sort.

How to Unblock TikTok if Your ISP Is Blocking Access

If you live in a country where TikTok is banned, or even attend a college where the app is no longer available, there is a workaround you can use. Simply follow these steps:

1. Download and install a VPN onto your device. ExpressVPN is a good free option. Make sure the VPN has encryption, split tunneling, leak protection, IP shuffle, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch.
   
2. Open the VPN and select a region or country where TikTok isn’t blocked.
   
3. Connect to the VPN.
   
4. Open TikTok and start using it as you normally would.

This should solve all your problems with accessing the app.

FAQs

What is TikTok doing to create a safe and secure platform?

TikTok ensures that certain elements of user data are encrypted using industry standard algorithms.

What is TikTok’s response to all the allegations?

TikTok’s CEO has publicly disputed every allegation leveled against the app and the Chinese nation. He claims that the Chinese government has never requested any confidential information. Furthermore, if any such requests were made, they would be declined.

What are the measures various countries have taken to ban TikTok?

Countries such as Canada, the U.S., and France have ordered government officials to stop using the app on state devices. A few colleges have gone so far as to remove the app of their Wi-Fi network. The EU institutions – the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the EU Council – have banned TikTok on staff devices, citing cybersecurity concerns. The European Parliament’s ban was implemented on March 20. It also advised staff to remove the app from their personal devices, also for security purposes.

Which state in the United States was first to ban TikTok?

Montana was the first state in the United States to completely ban TikTok from not just federal devices but for all its residents.

Can I still be on TikTok if it’s banned by country?

Yes, TikTok can be used if your country is banned by the help of a VPN. With a VPN, you can easily get back on TikTok.

Banned but Not Forgotten

TikTok has been banned in many countries and by many institutions, even though the company disputes the allegations made against it. If the app poses a threat to the safety and security of people’s information, then many more countries may ban it in the future in order to protect its citizens. If the case against the company proves unfounded, TikTok users should be able to continue to enjoy the fun app and all it has to offer. Alternatively, they should have the option of signing up without providing any personal information.

What do you think of the TikTok ban? Does the thought of having your privacy potentially invaded discourage you from using the app? Let us know in the comments section below.