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Opinion | Looming US TikTok ban goes against American values
A nationwide ban could disrupt the lives of millions who depend on the platform and jeopardise US business interests abroad
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On December 6, a US federal appeal court upheld legislation mandating that ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, must sell its US operations or face a nationwide ban.
Although framed as a measure to protect national security, the TikTok bill does not reflect a genuine concern for user privacy or cybersecurity but, rather, is a calculated move to undermine a successful foreign company and advance domestic economic interests.
This approach sets a dangerous precedent, raises serious ethical concerns and threatens the global competitiveness of American businesses. Moreover, it ignores the significant economic harm it will cause to US small businesses and individuals who rely on TikTok for income, marketing and community building.
The rationale for the ban centres on the alleged risk that the Chinese government could access Americans’ user data or manipulate content on the platform. However, if TikTok poses such a grave threat, why have US leaders relied on it for their own election campaigns? Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris all leveraged TikTok for outreach.
This widespread use signals an implicit trust in the platform’s capabilities and safety. Furthermore, the US government has yet to provide concrete proof that TikTok data has been misused by the Chinese government.
Instead, the argument relies on speculative risks, creating an uneven standard applied selectively to foreign companies. The contradiction is glaring: TikTok is somehow both a national security risk and an indispensable campaign tool. This inconsistency undermines the legitimacy of the US position and suggests ulterior motives.
Fred Teng is president of the America China Public Affairs Institute. He is also an honorary fellow of the Foreign Policy Association, senior adviser to the China-United States Exchange Foundation, executive council member of the Center for China and Globalization, and a visiting professor of the School of International Studies, Sichuan University.
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