China criticizes possible U.S. plan to force TikTok sale
Posted March 27, 2023 by: Admin
The Chinese government has announced that it will oppose any possible attempt by the United States to force the Chinese owner of the popular short-video app, TikTok, to sell the company. The US government has expressed concerns that the app could be a security risk as its owner, ByteDance, may provide user data or browsing history to the Chinese government or use the app to promote propaganda and disinformation. The Wall Street Journal reported that US authorities are considering banning the app if ByteDance does not sell it.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokeswoman, Shu Jueting, stated that if the news is true, China will resolutely oppose it. She added that a forced sale would seriously damage investors from multiple countries, including China, and hurt confidence to invest in the United States. TikTok is a point of contention between China and other governments over technology and security, which is disrupting several industries, including processor chip and smartphone.
The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, is scheduled to make an appearance before a US Congressional committee to argue against banning the video-sharing app. American lawmakers have expressed concerns over national security and have alleged that the app could be used to spy on US users. In his prepared remarks, Chew is expected to deny the allegations and state that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users.
Several countries have already banned TikTok and other Chinese apps, including India, Britain, and New Zealand. Norway’s parliament also followed suit and banned TikTok and messaging app Telegram on devices with access to the assembly’s systems with immediate effect, citing concerns over privacy and security. Telegram is a messaging app founded by Russian-born brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov and is popular in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and the United States. The decision by Norway’s parliament is in line with the recommendation of the Norwegian National Security Authority, and the apps should be removed as quickly as possible, according to parliamentary speaker Masud Gharahkhani.
