The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany has expressed concerns about the short video app TikTok. The concerns revolve around the scope of data collected and the possibilities for state influence. Despite these concerns, Germany’s Federal Interior Minister has stated that there is no basis for a general ban on the app in Germany as is being discussed in the USA. The platform belongs to the Bytedance group from China and has over a billion users worldwide, making it successful in the West as well.
The protection of the constitution has raised concerns because of the China connection, indicating uncertainties around how government agencies can influence companies like TikTok. Companies like TikTok are unable to escape such influence. The platform collects data and metadata on a large scale, and the algorithm selects clips individually for each user, constantly adapting to their preferences. One of the concerns in the West is that this wealth of data could be misused.
TikTok’s boss, Shou Zi Chew, tried to refute suspicions about Chinese espionage and influence during a hearing in the US. He emphasized that all American user data is stored on US servers and access to it is strictly monitored. Despite this, lawmakers on the House of Representatives’ Commerce Committee took a hard, bipartisan stance on the TikTok boss and showed little interest in his responses. Critics have countered that TikTok has significant headquarters in Beijing, and the US government is demanding an exit from Chinese shareholders.
TikTok has been banned on many government employees’ company cell phones in the USA, Germany, Great Britain, and the EU Commission. British Parliament also banned the app recently. In the US Congress, a law is in the works that could give President Joe Biden the power to ban the app altogether. Former President Donald Trump had already tried to force the sale of TikTok’s international business, but US courts saw a lack of legal basis for the action.
Despite the pressure against TikTok, there is currently no general ban on the app in Germany. The country’s Federal Interior Minister has stated that she sees TikTok as a company where “the data can of course leak.”
