The TikTok Debate: Privacy, Manipulation, and a Dangerous Precedent
“Data Collection: Beyond TikTok, platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram feed China through real-time bidding (RTB) systems, data brokers, and other pipelines.”
https://nbtv.substack.com/p/tiktok-is-worse-than-you-think-but
TikTok collects a staggering amount of data. Only recently, with the U.S. government moving to ban the app, have many begun to grasp the extent of its invasiveness. Beyond tracking what you watch and interact with, TikTok monitors every tap, keystroke, and interaction within its in-app browser.
Last year, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act required ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban. Here’s the reasoning they gave:
- Data Collection and Access: TikTok enables vast data collection, including location tracking, keystroke monitoring, and personal data aggregation. The Justice Department called this “unprecedented,” raising fears of espionage and exploitation by China.
- National Security Threats: Officials warn of potential spying, blackmail, and recruitment by China using TikTok.
- Content Manipulation: Concerns include the Chinese Communist Party manipulating TikTok’s algorithm to influence U.S. public opinion, suppress dissent, or spread disinformation.
Although ByteDance challenged the law on First Amendment grounds, the Supreme Court upheld it. A ban took effect on January 19, 2025, though enforcement remains uncertain after a delay announced by Trump. For now, TikTok’s future is in limbo.
So, why am I against a ban?
I’m a huge privacy advocate, and agree that TikTok is an atrocious piece of spyware. But banning it is the wrong solution. Here’s why:
1. It’s Ineffective
A ban won’t stop China—or others—from collecting data. China is already embedded in U.S. telecommunications, IoT devices, and the data brokerage industry, which sells detailed profiles of Americans to foreign adversaries. TikTok is one piece of a larger puzzle.
- Data Collection: Beyond TikTok, platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram feed China through real-time bidding (RTB) systems, data brokers, and other pipelines.
- Manipulation: TikTok’s algorithm isn’t unique—other platforms also manipulate public opinion through content curation, advertising, and social graphs. This problem is actually a huge issue that we have to face, and a ban on TikTok won’t stop it.
2. It Creates a False Sense of Security
Banning TikTok might feel like a win, but it’s an illusion. Politicians get credit for “solving” the problem, while the real threats persist. People become complacent, assuming the issue is resolved, and the urgency to address broader privacy concerns fades.
3. It Sets a Dangerous Precedent
This is the most important reason: Censoring software establishes troubling government overreach into personal choices. Today it’s TikTok; tomorrow, it could be any software the government deems problematic. Perhaps it’s Signal private messenger for “lack of regulation and impeding national security,” a privacy coin for “enabling untraceable transactions,” VPNs for “bypassing government censorship,” or non-mainstream social media for “spreading misinformation.” This precedent risks eroding autonomy and critical thinking, leaving individuals reliant on the government to decide what’s safe.
The Bigger Issue: Privacy Violations Everywhere
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MCViewPoint 