TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos. It has gained immense popularity in recent years, particularly among the younger generation. However, the app has faced its fair share of controversies, leading to bans in several countries around the world.

Staying on a more technological base, TikTok is currently viewed as a possible surveillance tool by the Chinese government all over the world…but that is not the only thing that the app is coming under fire. The excess of clutter content and lack of moderation, plus a few other things are reasons why TikTok is coming under fire.

Some of the main allegations include cybersecurity concerns and privacy violations, especially on devices that belong to government officials and users of public rank and jobs. Why? Well, in June 2022, Buzzfeed leaked audio recordings that revealed that US user's private data has been accessed multiple times by China’s ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company); this has raised red flags for all major economic and political forces in the world.

In December of 2022, Forbes reported that TikTok employees had spied on a few of their journalists who were researching a piece on ByteDance written by Buzzfeed, confirming the leak, admitted by ByteDance employees in the article, revealing that four of their employees were responsible for the leak, who were fired and investigated internally after the incident.

TikTok Global ban: What countries are taking action towards TikTok?

Now, depending on the country you search, they have different arguments in terms of considering a ban for the app, some say that it should be banned only for public and governmental workers, and others argue it should be banned for everyone. Let’s take a look at some of the countries that have taken action against TikTok:

India

India was the first country to ban TikTok, citing privacy concerns and national security concerns. The Indian government took action after several complaints were raised about objectionable content on the platform.

In June 2020, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps. The ban was imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which allows the government to block any information or communication that it considers detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

The impact of TikTok's ban in India was immediate and significant. The app had a large user base in the country, with millions of active users. The ban led to a decline in user engagement and caused financial losses for TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance.

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was another nation that imposed restrictions on TikTok. In July 2020, the British government issued a warning that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, needed to sell its British operations or face a ban.

The reason behind the UK's move was concern over TikTok's handling of user data and its ties to the Chinese government. The British government feared that TikTok's data collection practices could pose a threat to national security.

The impact of TikTok's ban in the UK was less severe compared to India's. TikTok continued to operate in the country, albeit with some limitations. ByteDance agreed to a series of measures to address the security concerns raised by the British government.

Indonesia

Indonesia, the third largest market for TikTok, imposed a ban on the app in September 2020. The ban was a result of ongoing concerns over the spread of adult and other inappropriate content on the platform.

Indonesia's restrictions on TikTok were imposed under the country's Electronic Information and Transactions Act. The act prohibits the dissemination and display of content deemed pornographic or contrary to public morality.

The impact of TikTok's ban in Indonesia was similar to what was seen in India. User engagement on the platform declined significantly, leading to financial losses for ByteDance. However, TikTok continues to operate in the country through a virtual private network (VPN).

Australia

TikTok was banned from devices issued by the Australian federal government on April 4th, 2023. The decision was made by the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, after getting advice from the country's intelligence and security agencies.

Norway

The Norwegian parliament has prohibited the use of TikTok on work devices, following the recommendation of the country's Justice Ministry that the app shouldn’t be installed on government-issued phones.

The Parliament's speaker emphasised that TikTok should not be present on any devices with access to the assembly's systems. It was further requested that the app be removed promptly.

They can still use the app if necessary on professional grounds but only on their personal devices that are not connected to the government’s network. Additionally, both the capital of Oslo and the second largest city, Bergen, urged municipal employees to remove TikTok from their work phones.

Belgium

On March 10, Belgium announced it was prohibiting TikTok from accessing devices owned or paid for by Belgium's federal government for at least six months. This decision was driven by concerns about cybersecurity, privacy, and misinformation.

The Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo, explained that the ban was prompted by warnings received from the state security services and their cybersecurity centre. These warnings highlighted the potential risks posed by TikTok, including the harvesting of user data and the manipulation of algorithms to control the news feed and content.

In response to the Belgian government's decision, TikTok expressed disappointment. The company argued that the suspension of its app was based on fundamental misunderstandings about its operations. TikTok emphasised that it is willing to engage with officials to address any concerns and clarify any misconceptions.

Denmark

The Danish Ministry of Defense recently prohibited its employees from using TikTok on their work phones. The directive requires all staff members who have already installed the app to remove it from their mobile devices promptly. The ministry cited both "weighty security considerations" and "very limited work-related need to use the app" as the reasons for the ban.

TikTok Restrictions

The restrictions on TikTok imposed by various countries highlight the controversies surrounding the app. Concerns over data privacy, national security, and public morality have led to varying levels of restrictions and bans. These restrictions have had an impact on TikTok's user base and financial performance, highlighting the importance of addressing these concerns.