Just two months ago, Joe Biden joined the social media platform TikTok with a video titled “lol hey guys.” Now, the US president is about to sign a bill that could ban the popular app – unless its parent company sells it.
The country fears that TikTok’s owner, Beijing-based technology company ByteDance, could be forced by Chinese authorities to hand over the data of nearly 170 million American app users.
In this episode, Niall Paterson breaks down the possible ban with Arthi Nachiappan, our technology correspondent. Plus, Chris Stokel-Walker, author of TikTok Boom: China’s Dynamite App and the Social Media Superpower Race, joins Niall to discuss the app’s impact on the US – as well as China’s influence on technology.
Since recording this episode, TikTok CEO Shou Chew said in a statement: “This unconstitutional law is a ban on TikTok and we will challenge it in court.
“As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue to invest and innovate to ensure that TikTok continues to be a space where Americans from all walks of life can come safely to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired.”
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Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse
Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku
Editor: Paulo Stanworth
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
