The Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Democratic Senator Mark Warner stated, “We should not ignore the fact that according to Chinese law, the ultimate responsibility of TikTok’s owner lies not with the shareholders or its users, but with the Chinese Communist Party.” This statement comes amid ongoing debates surrounding the popular short-video social media platform TikTok’s potential ties to the Chinese government.
TikTok has consistently defended itself against claims of spreading Chinese propaganda, asserting that it does not align with the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda. However, concerns over the platform’s potential influence on American users in alignment with Chinese government directives have been raised in the United States.
The debate surrounding TikTok and its alleged biases towards the Chinese government was officially brought to the forefront during a hearing at the Washington DC Appeals Court on September 15.
NBC’s report on September 16 questioned the true nature of TikTok, referencing court documents and academic studies cited in congressional testimonies. These studies pointed towards TikTok platform’s bias in favor of Chinese government views, including stifling information related to the treatment of Uyghurs and actions in Tibet.
The latest report from Rutgers University’s Network Contagion Research Institute found that compared to other social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok does indeed suppress anti-China (anti-communist) content. Researchers concluded that the evidence provides compelling indirect proof of TikTok’s manipulation of content.
On the ownership analysis of TikTok, a report by Strider Technologies, a private analysis firm experienced in screening Chinese public information, revealed that with Chinese government entities increasingly holding “golden shares” in technology companies, their influence over these platforms has become substantial.
The U.S. government’s continued apprehension over the national security risks posed by TikTok stems from concerns over potential exploitation of sensitive data from TikTok’s 170 million American users by the Chinese government and secret manipulation of TikTok’s algorithm to shape content in favor of China’s interests.
The ongoing legal battle over TikTok’s ownership and its potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party has underscored broader concerns over foreign control of American media and information outlets, a longstanding focus of U.S. federal communication policy.
Scholars like Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout have highlighted the historical precedence of restrictions on foreign ownership in U.S. communication policy, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding American autonomy against foreign influences.
Against the backdrop of TikTok’s claims defending their ties to the Chinese Communist Party, concerns over the platform being potentially weaponized for malicious foreign interference have fueled bipartisan actions in Washington.
As the discussions on TikTok’s future in the U.S. continue, the implications reach far beyond the confines of a single social media platform, reflecting broader challenges of foreign influence and national security in the digital age.