The article discusses the ban on the popular Chinese app, TikTok, in India and the United States. In India, TikTok was banned in June 2020, alongside dozens of other Chinese apps, following a military clash between India and China. The Indian government cited privacy concerns and threats to sovereignty and security as reasons for the ban. The move received widespread support in India, where there had been calls for a boycott of Chinese goods. Prior to the ban, India had also restricted investment from Chinese companies.
Despite having approximately 200 million users in India, TikTok was banned quickly, leading to the emergence of alternative platforms such as YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. These platforms capitalized on the market void left by TikTok and attracted the majority of its content creators and users. TikTok was known for its hyperlocal content, showcasing life in small-town India, but users and creators have adapted to other platforms in the four years since the ban. Many, like Winnie Sangma and Rajib Dutta, have transitioned to Instagram and continue to engage with their audiences.
The article highlights the differences between India’s ban on TikTok and the potential ban in the United States. In India, the ban was swift and became permanent by January 2021, while the U.S. legislation gives ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, nine months to sell the app or face a ban. The U.S. legal system, particularly the First Amendment protecting free speech rights, presents a different challenge for banning the app compared to India. The article also discusses the broader implications of Chinese app proliferation worldwide, citing bans and restrictions in countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and various European countries.
Digital policy expert Nikhil Pahwa emphasizes the need for countries to assess their dependency on Chinese apps and develop strategies to reduce the potential national security risks associated with these apps. Chinese intelligence and cybersecurity laws raise concerns about the potential for these apps to act in the interest of the Chinese state, creating distrust and security risks for other countries. Pahwa argues for different rules governing app usage in democratic countries compared to authoritarian regimes where companies may act as extensions of the state. Overall, the article underscores the complexities surrounding the ban of TikTok in India and the U.S., as well as the broader implications for global app usage and national security risks.
