TikTok – Page 3 – Family Council

TikTok Fined $600M for Failing to Protect User Data from China

May 6, 2025Jerry CoxSocial MediaSocial Media, TikTok

The Wall Street Journal reports TikTok has been fined $600 million in Ireland over risks of Chinese surveillance.

With upwards of a billion users worldwide — including somewhere between 135 and 170 million in the U.S. — TikTok is among the most popular social media outlets on earth.

But TikTok isn’t just a phone app. It’s a major corporation, and its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, has been valued at $300 billion.

However, TikTok has found itself embroiled in controversy for struggling to protect private user data from entities in China — including the Chinese Communist Party. The platform has been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” online. TikTok also has been sued for allegedly violating U.S. laws intended to protect children.

Now The Wall Street Journal reports,

The Irish Data Protection Commission said Friday that TikTok had failed to demonstrate that any user data it sends to China would be protected from government access under Chinese laws covering things such as espionage and cybersecurity.

The Irish regulator, which leads enforcement of the European Union’s privacy law for TikTok, ordered the social-video app to stop transferring user data to China within six months if it can’t guarantee the same level of protection as in the EU.

The watchdog also said TikTok last month admitted to storing limited European user data in China, despite having previously denied doing so. TikTok told the watchdog it has since deleted that data. The regulator said Friday it is discussing with EU counterparts whether it should take further action against the company over the matter.

TikTok said it would appeal the fine, which totaled 530 million euros. The company contests the allegation that it isn’t giving European data enough protection, and says the decision primarily covers a period before it implemented new protections. TikTok added that it has never turned over user data to the Chinese government or received a request to do so.

It’s important to remember that in 2023, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed two lawsuits against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance.

The A.G.’s lawsuits allege that TikTok and ByteDance failed to fully disclose that the company is subject to Chinese laws that mandate cooperation with intelligence activities of the People’s Republic of China and that TikTok aggressively collects sensitive user data.

As we keep saying, social media platforms are not just websites or phone apps. These are multimillion dollar businesses owned and operated by investors and other interests. If the Chinese Communist Party can influence TikTok, the CCP may be able to manipulate content, influence users, and harvest data on one of the world’s largest social media platform. That’s a serious concern.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arguments Over TikTok Lawsuit

Jan 13, 2025Jerry CoxSocial MediaSocial Media, TikTok

On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the lawsuit over whether the U.S. can ban social media platform TikTok if its owner fails to sever ties with China.

With upwards of a billion users worldwide — including somewhere between 135 and 170 million in the U.S. — TikTok is among the most popular social media outlets on earth.

TikTok isn’t just a video-sharing app. It’s a major corporation. Its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, has been valued at $300 billion.

In April, President Biden signed a bipartisan piece of legislation requiring TikTok to cut ties with China by January 19. If it fails to do so, the law would ban TikTok in the United States.

Instead of severing ties with China, TikTok sued the federal government. That lawsuit has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, who heard arguments in the case on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal writes,

TikTok’s lawyer, Noel Francisco, told the court that the law threatens to silence a popular and important platform, a violation of its First Amendment rights. . . .

In early questioning from the court, most justices voiced doubts about TikTok’s arguments, viewing the law not as a restriction on free speech but instead as targeting the platform’s ownership by Beijing-based ByteDance. . . .

Chief Justice John Roberts said the court couldn’t ignore congressional concerns that Beijing could use TikTok to spread propaganda and stockpile sensitive user data on Americans. . . .

Justice Elena Kagan said the law “is only targeted at this foreign corporation, which doesn’t have First Amendment rights.” . . . .

The Supreme Court agreed to hear TikTok’s appeal on an expedited schedule, meaning the justices could rule in time to spare the app—or seal its doom—before the Jan. 19 deadline.

In December, Family Council joined three dozen other leaders and organizations in an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in this case.

The amicus brief argues that the Chinese Communist Party does not respect free speech in China or in America, and that the First Amendment should not give foreign adversaries like the CCP an open door to influence tens of millions of Americans.

As we keep saying, social media is more than just websites or phone apps. These are multibillion dollar businesses with tremendous influence.

As Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has pointed out, TikTok’s owners are subject to Chinese laws that mandate secret cooperation with intelligence activities of the People’s Republic of China.

If the Chinese Communist Party can control TikTok, the CCP may be able to manipulate users or harvest sensitive data on one of the world’s largest social media platforms. That ought to concern all of us.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Family Council Joins Amicus Brief Against Chinese-Backed TikTok

Dec 31, 2024Jerry CoxSocial MediaSocial Media, TikTok

On Friday Family Council joined an amicus brief in federal court against social media giant TikTok.

With approximately a billion users worldwide — including an estimated 135 – 170 million in the U.S. — TikTok arguably is one of the most popular social media platforms on the planet. Its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, has been valued at $300 billion.

However, TikTok has come under fire for struggling to protect private user data from entities in China — including the Chinese Communist Party — and it has been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” online. TikTok also has been accused of violating federal laws intended to protect children.

In April, President Biden signed a bipartisan piece of legislation requiring TikTok to cut ties with China by January 19, 2025. If it fails to do so, the law would ban TikTok in the United States.

In response, TikTok sued the federal government, and the case has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Friday, Family Council joined three dozen other leaders and organizations in an amicus brief filed by Advancing American Freedom. The brief argues that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) does not respect free speech in China or in America, and that the First Amendment should not give foreign adversaries like the CCP an open door to influence tens of millions of Americans.

As we keep saying, social media is more than just websites or phone apps. These are multibillion dollar businesses owned and operated by investors and other interests. If the Chinese Communist Party can influence TikTok, the CCP may be able to manipulate users or harvest sensitive data on one of the world’s largest social media platforms. That ought to concern everyone.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.