TikTok Ban: Freedom of Speech vs. National Security

Published 3/3/24: Should TikTok be banned if ByteDance refuses to sell the app to an American company?

For Context: The House of Representatives could soon vote on a bill that would give President Joe Biden authority to ban TikTok if ByteDance, the app’s Chinese parent company, does not sell the app to an American company.

First Amendment Concerns? A columnist in the Boston Globe (Left bias) argued, “America would lose a lot if the popular video-sharing app were prohibited.” The writer stated an “outright prohibition raises First Amendment concerns and is unconstitutional … while doing little to address the vast data and privacy vulnerabilities found in other corners of the internet.” The writer concluded that the app should face increased regulation, “such as passing the American Data Privacy and Protection Act that would restrict how companies collect user data,” but not an outright ban.

National Security Concerns? The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board (Lean Right bias) argued that Beijing and ByteDance have “demonstrated that they can’t be trusted” and have “left Washington with no choice” but to ban or force a sale of the app. The board stated, “Reams of evidence show how the Chinese government can use the platform for cyber-espionage and political influence campaigns in the U.S.” Pushing back on the First Amendment concerns, the board argued the bill “has ample precedent since U.S. law restricts foreign ownership of broadcast stations,” and concluded, “Despite America’s political divisions, this ought to be a shared goal.”