TikTok continues to work to ensure Western Governments that it’s not beholden to the CCP, with TikTok close to establishing a new agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which would offer assurance to US officials as to how US user data is stored and accessed. Also included would be restrictions on potential interference by Chinese staff.
According to The New York Times:
“The Biden administration and TikTok have drafted a preliminary agreement to resolve national security concerns posed by the Chinese-owned video app […] The two sides have hammered out the foundations of a deal in which TikTok would make changes to its data security and governance without requiring its owner, the Chinese internet giant ByteDance, to sell it, said three of the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the negotiations are confidential.”
Things Are Going BAN-ananas
Under the said agreement, TikTok would store its US user data solely in the US, which it’s already working towards via a deal with Oracle, while Oracle officials would also be given oversight of TikTok’s algorithms and moderation systems. TikTok is set to also create a new board of security experts, reporting to the US Government, enabling more direct monitoring of its data safety processes.
The deal isn’t finalized just yet and would likely need a sign-off from President Biden before going into effect. The Times reported that Treasury and Justice Department officials are still working through the details, many of which remain skeptical that it’ll actually make it through to the next stage.
It seems that TikTok will have to find a workaround to get the deal done or risk losing its entire US business, which would also likely see other western nations follow suit, severely crippling the app’s supposed global expansion and reach. At this stage, it seems unlikely that we could see a platform used by a billion and a half people shut down entirely, but then again, as global tensions continue rising, and China keeps up with its antics of sovereign misconduct, there are concerns that TikTok could be caught in the middle and be used as either a surveillance device or propaganda tool.
Regardless, concerns around the app and its ownership remain. Inevitably, TikTok’s future will be intertwined with the actions and decisions of the CCP. The more the Chinese Government gets out of hand with its shenanigans, the more TikTok will be a focus of various national security and regulatory groups. This deal is crucial for the app’s longevity, helping calm Western governments.
The Wrap
Of course, that’s only if it’s even possible to secure the deal while the app remains under Chinese ownership. This is also the reason certain requirements here are so steep, extreme even if you look at it from certain angles. Again, while it seems unlike for TikTok to be cut off entirely, it’s still a possibility. It has already happened in India and if international tensions escalate, it could happen again, but this time, with the whole of the West.
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