TikTok is facing bans mainly due to national security concerns related to its ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance. Governments, especially in the United States, worry that TikTok could share sensitive user data with the Chinese government, potentially enabling espionage or surveillance. Chinese laws that require companies to cooperate with government intelligence efforts fuel these fears. Beyond data security, some countries have cited issues like misinformation, children's safety, mental health impacts, and domestic social problems as additional reasons for bans or restrictions. In the U.S., a law was passed requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a nationwide ban, which the Supreme Court upheld. Despite multiple extensions, TikTok has been technically banned since January 2025, although enforcement has been delayed. Other countries, including India and some in Europe and Canada, have also taken steps to ban or restrict TikTok on government devices due to similar concerns. Summary of key points:
- National security risks about data access by China.
- Fear of misinformation and content manipulation.
- Concerns over children's safety, mental health, and social issues.
- Legal actions leading to bans or forced sales/divestment in several countries.
- U.S. ban effective since January 2025 but with ongoing delays in enforcement.
This is why TikTok is getting banned in several parts of the world.
