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TikTok is not happy. On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill with a vote of 352–65 that could block the popular app in the US. A spokesperson for the company responded accordingly in a statement , saying, “This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it's a ban. We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service." Lawmakers insist that the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is not a ban. Instead, they claim the law gives TikTok a choice: either divest from ByteDance's China-based owners or face the consequences of TikTok being cut off in the US. If the bill becomes law, app stores and hosting services would have 180 days to limit access to foreign adversary-controlled apps. The bill specifically names TikTok and ByteDance as restricted apps, making it clear that lawmakers intend to quash the alleged "national security threat" that TikTok poses in the US. Read more below via Ars Technica: https://trib.al/72mY7k9

Data privacy and national security concerns loom as the social media giant appeals to a potential ban. With both sides entrenched in legal maneuvers, the outcome carries far-reaching implications for the tech industry's landscape and the future of digital governance. As the saga unfolds, questions arise about the delicate balance between innovation, regulation, and geopolitical tensions. #tiktok #informationsecurity #digitalgovernance #SCOTUS

TikTok is not happy. On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill with a vote of 352–65 that could block the popular app in the US. A spokesperson for the company responded accordingly in a statement, saying, “This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it's a ban. We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service." Lawmakers insist that the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is not a ban. Instead, they claim the law gives TikTok a choice: either divest from ByteDance's China-based owners or face the consequences of TikTok being cut off in the US. If the bill becomes law, app stores and hosting services would have 180 days to limit access to foreign adversary-controlled apps. The bill specifically names TikTok and ByteDance as restricted apps, making it clear that lawmakers intend to quash the alleged "national security threat" that TikTok poses in the US. Read more below via Ars Technica: https://lnkd.in/giD77qsW

TikTok Confirms It Offered US Government a 'Kill Switch': TikTok revealed it offered the U.S. government a "kill switch" in 2022 to address data protection and national security concerns, allowing the government to shut down the platform if it violated certain rules. The disclosure was made as it began its legal fight against legislation that will require ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets or face a ban. The BBC reports: "This law is a radical departure from this country's tradition of championing an open Internet, and sets a dangerous precedent allowing the political branches to target a disfavored speech platform and force it to sell or be shut down," they argued in their legal submission. They also claimed the US government refused to engage in any serious settlement talks after 2022, and pointed to the "kill switch" offer as evidence of the lengths they had been prepared to go. TikTok says the mechanism would have allowed the government the "explicit authority to suspend the platform in the United States at the US government's sole discretion" if it did not follow certain rules. A draft "National Security Agreement", proposed by TikTok in August 2022, would have seen the company having to follow rules such as properly funding its data protection units and making sure that ByteDance did not have access to US users' data. The "kill switch" could have been triggered by the government if it broke this agreement, it claimed. In a letter - first reported by the Washington Post - addressed to the US Department of Justice, TikTok's lawyer alleges that the government "ceased any substantive negotiations" after the proposal of the new rules. The letter, dated 1 April 2024, says the US government ignored requests to meet for further negotiations. It also alleges the government did not respond to TikTok's invitation to "visit and inspect its Dedicated Transparency Center in Maryland." Further reading: TikTok Says US Ban Inevitable Without a Court Order Blocking Law Read more of this story at Slashdot.

TikTok Confirms It Offered US Government a 'Kill Switch': TikTok revealed it offered the U.S. government a "kill switch" in 2022 to address data protection and national security concerns, allowing the government to shut down the platform if it violated certain rules. The disclosure was made as it began its legal fight against legislation that will require ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets or face a ban. The BBC reports: "This law is a radical departure from this country's tradition of championing an open Internet, and sets a dangerous precedent allowing the political branches to target a disfavored speech platform and force it to sell or be shut down," they argued in their legal submission. They also claimed the US government refused to engage in any serious settlement talks after 2022, and pointed to the "kill switch" offer as evidence of the lengths they had been prepared to go. TikTok says the mechanism would have allowed the government the "explicit authority to suspend the platform in the United States at the US government's sole discretion" if it did not follow certain rules. A draft "National Security Agreement", proposed by TikTok in August 2022, would have seen the company having to follow rules such as properly funding its data protection units and making sure that ByteDance did not have access to US users' data. The "kill switch" could have been triggered by the government if it broke this agreement, it claimed. In a letter - first reported by the Washington Post - addressed to the US Department of Justice, TikTok's lawyer alleges that the government "ceased any substantive negotiations" after the proposal of the new rules. The letter, dated 1 April 2024, says the US government ignored requests to meet for further negotiations. It also alleges the government did not respond to TikTok's invitation to "visit and inspect its Dedicated Transparency Center in Maryland." Further reading: TikTok Says US Ban Inevitable Without a Court Order Blocking Law Read more of this story at Slashdot.

A selection of online safety news and articles that caught our attention this week: Tech firms told to hide 'toxic' content from children Ofcom has warned social media sites they could be named and shamed - and banned for under-18s - if they fail to comply with new online safety rules. https://lnkd.in/edim_DDk ——— EU Urges X to Explain Cut to Content Moderation Resources Amid Disinformation Fears The European Union (EU) has called on Elon Musk's social network X (formerly Twitter) to clarify a reduction in content moderation resources, citing concerns about disinformation ahead of the upcoming European elections in June. https://lnkd.in/eFZnfYft ——— Sen. Ossoff’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children from Online Exploitation Signed into Law President Biden signed into law Sens. Ossoff and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)’s bipartisan REPORT Act, which will — for the first time — require websites and social media platforms to report crimes involving Federal trafficking and enticement of children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). https://lnkd.in/eJwJJXm8 #saferinternet #onlinesafety #onlineharms #ageassurance #ageverification #ageestimation #technews #ofcom

TikTok offered the U.S. government a comprehensive deal in 2022 to address national security concerns, including giving officials control over its board, veto power over hires, and a kill switch, but the Biden administration declined. Instead, they pursued a forced-sale law, potentially leading to a nationwide ban on TikTok. The government hasn't publicly explained why they rejected TikTok's proposal, leading to a legal battle. TikTok and ByteDance argue the law violates the First Amendment. Despite efforts to address concerns, the government's reluctance to engage has hindered progress. If TikTok doesn't divest its U.S. assets by the deadline, it faces being banned. Tech experts question the urgency of the threat TikTok poses without substantial evidence. Follow Amanda Newman to stay up to date with technology. https://lnkd.in/dfzhsVJT

In the digital age, controlling data flow to foreign entities is more than a privacy issue; it's a matter of national security. The recent U.S. legislative efforts to address concerns with TikTok underscore the importance of safeguarding American data from potential misuse. 🛡️ How much control should the government have over foreign-owned apps operating in our country? Can we balance innovation and security without compromising our digital freedoms? #DataPrivacy #NationalSecurity #TikTokBan

TikTok is suing the US government in an effort to thwart a law that will outlaw TikTok if its parent company, ByteDance, does not sell it within a year Tuesday’s lawsuit filing alleges that the bill violates the United States Constitution. The law, according to TikTok, violates the commitment of the United States Constitution to “both free speech and individual liberty.”  “Congress, for the first time in history, has passed a law that permanently and nationwide bans a single named speech platform and prohibits every American from participating in a unique online community with over one billion users worldwide,” the lawsuit states. “The Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” (the “Act”), which you refer to, violates the Constitution.”  Two weeks after President Biden signed the measure, which included aid for Israel and Ukraine, the lawsuit was filed. ByteDance is given until January 19 to sell the application or risk a ban under the measure, which brings the likelihood of a TikTok ban closer to fruition than ever before.  According to TikTok, the U.S. government needs to provide substantiating evidence for its assertions that the application presents national security threats.  Image Credits: TechCrunch The lawsuit states, “The statements made by congressional committees and individual members of Congress during the hurried, behind-the-scenes legislative process that preceded the enactment of the Act confirm that there is merely speculation and not ‘evidence,’ as the First Amendment mandates.”  Further, TikTok asserts that the legislation is essentially an attempt to prohibit the application, arguing that it is unfeasible to generate revenue for the platform within the allotted 270-day period.  The lawsuit states, “Petitioners have repeatedly informed the U.S. government of this, and sponsors of the Act were aware that divestment is impossible.” “Without a doubt, the Act will compel TikTok to cease operations by January 19, 2025, thereby silencing the 170 million Americans who utilize the platform to engage in unique forms of communication that are impossible elsewhere.” The Chinese government would likely prohibit the sale of the application, even if ByteDance intended to do so because it would require approval to transmit TikTok’s algorithms. TikTok further asserts that transferring “millions of lines of software code” to a new owner would render a transaction technologically unfeasible.   The lawsuit resulted from four years of U.S. government allegations that TikTok’s connections to China exposed sensitive American information to the Chinese government and threatened national security. In response to these allegations, TikTok has stated that it has invested $2 billion to safeguard the information of U.S. users.  Legislators have additionally contended that TikTok can influence public… #Tech #TikTok #US

A significant internet speech regulation is going through the US Congress. It has a really good chance of becoming law. These new laws are set to reshape how we protect younger users. They challenge us to balance safety and maintain an open internet. We will let our Chief Commercial Officer, Axel Banér, explain: • KOSPA (Kids’ Online Safety Act): Introduces a “duty of care” for platforms, making them responsible for ensuring that the content and interactions on their sites are safe for minors. • COPPA 2.0 (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act): Expands protections to minors up to 17 years old, bans targeted ads to this age group, and holds platforms accountable for safeguarding their privacy. This is not just about compliance; it’s about adapting strategies and platforms to ensure we protect those who need protection. And this demographic sure uses platforms, you know, like a lot 🔥 Many teens use social media daily—if not constantly—but daily use varies by platform. About 7/10 US teens say they visit YouTube every day, including 16% who do so almost constantly. TikTok follows, with 58% who say they visit it daily. Far fewer report daily use of Facebook; over 60% of US teens say they never use Facebook.