Since the network social Today TikTok is legal in the US (after a period of exile), it can continue to thrive. In addition, while US digital giants tighten their belts due to inflation, the war in Ukraine and other factors (like China’s COVID zero policy), TikTok continues to grow. And while son competitor Meta quits, TikTok is still hiring. A recent CNN article pointed out that the network social still plans to hire about 1,000 engineers for its premises in Mountain View (hence close to Google headquarters).
TikTok resists the crisis, but still under threat in the US
Thanks to its growth and relative cost-consciousness, TikTok appears to be more sustainable. However, on cause because the network social offers the Chinese company ByteDance, it is under constant threat. Recall that in the United States, a ban on the application was narrowly avoided. However, this is the current device to provide protection the data is not clear. At the FCC, commerce regulator Brendan Carr, a Republican commission member, is in favor of a total ban on TikTok in the United States.
The case of Europe is mentioned as an example
Protect son According to the FCC panelist, the case of Europe is regularly mentioned. In November of this year, TikTok acknowledged that Chinese employees may have access to European users’ data. More precisely, the network social explained in a press release that its European users’ data is stored on servers in the United States and Singapore. However, Chinese employees may have access to distance. “With a demonstrated need to do their jobs, a series of robust security checks and approval protocols, and through recognized methods in accordance with the GDPR, we allow certain members of our group located in Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and USA for access, distance, to TikTok user data,” said Elaine Fox, Privacy Manager for TikTok in Europe. If anything, it was enough to arouse suspicion. And long before that, MEPs had challenged the European Commission on this issue.
Ongoing local investigations
In a recent tweet, Brendan Carr shares European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s response to MEPs. In it, von der Leyen recalls the rules that apply to data transfer. Basically, under the GDPR, if TikTok shares data with its parent company or subsidiaries outside of Europe, the network social should ensure that these transfers do not affect the level protection user data is applicable in Europe. And, according to the president of the Commission, this concerns access to data of government bodies of recipient countries. Nevertheless, in principle, as before, according to the president, it is the local authorities who are competent in this type of business. In France it is CNIL. In any case, investigations are already underway within the European Union. Ursula von der Leyen cites Irish CNIL investigation on several points GDPR, including data transfer to China. A similar investigation was also launched by the CNIL of the Netherlands.
NEW: President of The European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, confirms that #Tik Tokdate transfers are under investigation and object of several ongoing proceedings. This happened after members of European parliament on data access from inside China https://t.co/aWlVl6hnXJ peak.twitter.com/dhOCojKKOW — Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) November 22, 2022
Exile possible ?
At present, unlike in the United States, there is not really a debate about possible expulsion from TikTok in the European Union. On the other hand, what is more probable the EU should insist on building a network social change your practice. For example, this year a dialogue on the protection of consumers between different players from the EU and TikTok led to changes in the business practices of the network social. “All social media platforms must follow the rules and ensure that commercial content can be easily identified by consumers, including when promoted by influencers. We applaud TikTok’s push to make their workouts more transparent. son economic activity,” said Didier Reynders, commissioner for justice.
