Sun, 19 Jan 2025

Could TikTok ever be banned in the UK too?

Analysts have suggested it is "just matter of time" until the US ban on TikTok spreads.

* US analysts predict that if the Trump administration keeps TikTok offline, other countries will follow suit due to concerns over national security and ties to the Chinese government.
* The US ban on TikTok is based on alleged ties between its owner ByteDance and the Chinese government, which ByteDance denies.
* Incoming President Trump has indicated he may reverse the ban or find an alternative solution for TikTok in the US.
* Experts point out that similar bans have occurred with Huawei and Kaspersky, and it's only a matter of time before other countries follow suit if the US makes a decision to ban TikTok.
* The Five Eyes Alliance (US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) has already banned TikTok from government devices and some members have issued public warnings about national security concerns.
* Other countries like Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Netherlands, Norway, and Taiwan have also restricted or banned TikTok on government devices.
* Analysts note that the incoming Trump administration's position on TikTok may be different from his predecessors', which could affect whether other countries follow the US ban.
* The UK has stated it will not follow the same path as the US unless there is a specific security threat, and minister Darren Jones questioned the need for a ban based on the app's purpose of posting cat videos.
* TikTok faces challenges in continuing to thrive without a significant customer base in the US, which could reduce revenue and limit development of new features.
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