TikTok, the Chinese social platform, has been identified by Taiwan’s authorities as a potential national security risk due to what officials describe as substantial influence exercised by foreign actors hostile to Taiwan’s interests over the app.
Taiwan’s Digital Minister Audrey Tang warned in a parliamentary appearance that the platform is a dangerous product, according to Taiwan’s news agency CNA. The remarks reflect ongoing concerns about how the app could impact information security, user privacy, and public discourse in Taiwan as digital platforms become increasingly central to civic life.
TikTok is already banned for use by government bodies in Taiwan, and Tang indicated that this prohibition might extend to educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other sectors. The expansion would widen the scope of restrictions beyond public agencies, signaling a broader policy stance toward secure digital ecosystems in the region.
In the United States, a legislative development occurred on March 13 when the House of Representatives approved a measure that could allow the app to be banned if ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, does not divest the platform to a U.S. company within six months. The next step requires Senate approval, and the administration has signaled openness to signing such legislation into law, while political rivals offer diverging views on the proposal.
Observers who support the bill argue that ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government could give it access to vast quantities of user data and enable political censorship. They contend that a sale to a U.S.-based entity would mitigate these concerns by adding stronger independent oversight and data localization. Critics, however, warn about the implications for digital rights, global tech competition, and the governance of cross-border data flows.