The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: Why is Everyone Banning TikTok?
Jul 20, 2025
Caitlin Chin, a Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, dives into the national security concerns surrounding TikTok, particularly its ties to the Chinese government. She addresses state bans on the app and questions the effectiveness of these measures. Through lively discussion, Chin argues for a broader data protection framework rather than targeting TikTok alone. The dialogue also touches on the app’s data practices and the pressing need for Americans to gain control over their personal information, inspired by European standards.
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National Security Concerns About TikTok
- TikTok collects extensive personal data similar to other apps but concerns arise due to its Chinese parent company ByteDance.
- The fear is China could access U.S. data via its surveillance laws, though there's no evidence this has occurred yet.
Need for Stronger U.S. Data Privacy Laws
- U.S. lacks comprehensive, national data privacy laws, causing fragmented protections.
- Stronger laws requiring companies to limit data collection, sharing, and storage are necessary to enhance data security.
Data Minimization and Transparency
- Limit data collection to what is necessary and avoid storing or sharing unnecessary personal information.
- Improve transparency so users know what data is collected and with whom it's shared.