TikTok Ban
The potential prohibition of the TikTok app in the US unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership. The ban was discussed in terms of national security, free speech, and potential market impact.
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7/26/2025, 5:27:24 AM
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7/26/2025, 5:58:26 AM
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7/26/2025, 5:58:26 AM
Summary
The TikTok ban is a global issue, with numerous countries implementing restrictions or outright prohibitions on the short-form video platform. These actions are primarily driven by national security concerns, particularly the potential for the Chinese government to access user data via TikTok's parent company, ByteDance. Beyond security, other justifications include safeguarding children's well-being, addressing offensive content, and non-compliance with local data protection laws. The debate also encompasses free speech considerations and the app's advanced recommendation algorithm, 'Monolith,' which highlights its technological strengths amidst the national security risks. Notable bans include India (June 2020), Pakistan (multiple instances from October 2020), Uzbekistan (July 2021), Somalia (August 2023), and South Sudan (January 2024). In the United States, efforts to ban TikTok have involved state-level actions, such as Montana's attempted ban in 2023, and federal legislation passed by the House of Representatives in March 2024, requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Core Concern
Potential access of user data by the Chinese government
Key Technology
Advanced recommendation algorithm 'Monolith'
Parent Company
ByteDance
Affected Entity
TikTok (short-form video-hosting service)
Associated Debate
Free speech concerns
Other Reasons for Ban
Children's well-being, offensive content, non-compliance with data protection laws
Primary Reason for Ban
National security concerns
Timeline
- India banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps, citing national security concerns and border clashes. (Source: Web Search Results)
2020-06-29
- Pakistan ordered a ban on TikTok over 'immoral, obscene, and vulgar' content. (Source: Web Search Results)
2020-10-00
- Pakistan reversed its TikTok ban approximately ten days later after ByteDance committed to removing objectionable content. (Source: Web Search Results)
2020-10-00
- The United States government, under President Donald Trump, announced it was considering banning TikTok, viewing it as a national security threat. (Source: Web Search Results)
2020-00-00
- Uzbekistan banned TikTok, stating the app did not comply with personal data protection laws. (Source: Web Search Results)
2021-07-00
- Pakistan instituted another ban on TikTok due to the 'continuous presence of inappropriate content' on the platform. (Source: Web Search Results)
2021-07-20
- Pakistan's ban on TikTok was reversed after ByteDance assured authorities of its commitment to control unlawful content. (Source: Web Search Results)
2021-11-19
- Montana became the first US state to pass legislation banning TikTok on all personal devices operating within state lines. (Source: Web Search Results)
2023-04-14
- Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill (SB) 419 into law, enacting the state-wide TikTok ban. (Source: Web Search Results)
2023-05-17
- Somalia banned TikTok, Telegram, and the online betting website 1XBet to limit the spread of indecent content and propaganda. (Source: Web Search Results)
2023-08-00
- US District Judge Donald W. Molloy blocked Montana's TikTok ban, stating it 'infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses'. (Source: Web Search Results)
2023-12-01
- South Sudanese authorities suspended access to all social media platforms, including TikTok, for a minimum of 30 days, aimed at reducing youth violence. (Source: Web Search Results)
2024-01-00
- The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell off TikTok's U.S. operations within six months or face a ban from U.S. app stores and websites. (Source: Web Search Results)
2024-03-13
- Projected date for a U.S. TikTok ban to take effect, based on a bill passed in early 2024, leading to the platform temporarily going dark for users. (Source: Web Search Results)
2025-01-18
- Projected date when President Donald Trump signed an executive order, restoring TikTok service and giving the platform an additional 75 days to comply with the law. (Source: Web Search Results)
2025-01-20
- Projected date when President Donald Trump signed another executive order, further delaying the U.S. ban by an additional 75 days. (Source: Web Search Results)
2025-04-04
- Projected deadline for TikTok's sale to a U.S. entity, after which a full ban in the U.S. could be implemented if no deal is finalized. (Source: Web Search Results)
2025-09-17
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaCensorship of TikTok
Many countries have imposed bans or other restrictions on the short-form video-hosting service TikTok. Bans from government devices usually stem from national security concerns over potential access of data by the Chinese government through TikTok's parent company ByteDance. Other bans have cited children's well-being and offensive content such as pornography. There are also free speech concerns about TikTok ban.
Web Search Results
- Censorship of TikTok - Wikipedia
TikTok, along with 58 other Chinese-created apps, was banned completely in India by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on 29 June 2020, with a statement saying they were "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state, and public order". The ban was in response to a military clash between Indian and Chinese troops in disputed territory along their shared border between Ladakh and Western China. After an earlier skirmish in 2017 [...] In October 2020, Pakistan ordered a ban of TikTok over "immoral, obscene, and vulgar" content. The ban was reversed ten days later, after ByteDance stated that they would remove objectionable TikTok content and block users who upload "pornography and paedo content". [...] On 20 July 2021, the PTA instituted a ban on TikTok by reason of the "continuous presence of inappropriate content on the platform and its failure to take such content down." According to a statement by the PTA, "As a result of continuous engagement, senior management of the platform assured (the) PTA of its commitment to take necessary measure to control unlawful content in accordance with local laws and societal norms." Consequently, on 19 November 2021, the PTA agreed to act promptly and
- US TikTok ban: Which other countries have banned the app?
The announcement came after videos depicting the alleged killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan's El Gezira state triggered riots and deadly revenge attacks. Uzbekistan Uzbekistan banned TikTok in July 2021, after authorities said the app did not comply with personal data protection laws. Other countries have enforced partial bans, prohibiting access to the app on the work devices of lawmakers, civil servants or other employees, citing data privacy and national security concerns. [...] The Somali government banned TikTok, Telegram, and the online betting website 1XBet in August 2023, to limit the spread of what it called indecent content and propaganda. Officials said "terrorists and immoral groups" were using the apps to "spread constant horrific images and misinformation." South Sudan South Sudanese authorities said in January they had suspended their population's access to all social media platforms, including TikTok, for a minimum of 30 days. [...] The government says the ban is aimed at reducing youth violence, but rights groups and business owners say it threatens commerce and free speech ahead of May elections. India India banned TikTok in June 2020 along with other Chinese apps after a border clash between India and China. Authorities cited concerns about data security and privacy, adding that the apps were prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity. Jordan
- TikTok bans explained: Everything you need to know - TechTarget
A bill passed in early 2024 originally slated the TikTok ban for January 2025. On Jan. 18, just hours before midnight, the platform went dark, messaging users to inform them the app was banned. Approximately 12 hours later, service was restored, thanks to a new executive order from President Donald Trump, signed Jan. 20, 2025, that gave TikTok an extra 75 days to comply with the law. On April 4, 2025, Trump signed another executive order delaying the ban an additional 75 days before the TikTok [...] Getty Images/iStockphoto # TikTok bans explained: Everything you need to know ## The United States government takes aim at the viral video sharing application TikTok. Ben Lutkevich TikTok is set to be banned in the United States. TikTok has been under fire in the U.S. for years while raising questions about data access laws. The platform's parent company -- ByteDance -- must divest of its U.S. operation or lose its American user base, a group of more than 170 million. [...] The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation March 13, 2024, requiring Chinese company ByteDance to sell off the social media app within six months or be banned from U.S. stores and websites. The ban would force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, and service providers to block the browser version of the app in the United States.
- Restrictions on TikTok in the United States - Wikipedia
On April 14, 2023, Montana became the first state to pass legislation banning TikTok on all personal devices operating within state lines, and barring app stores from offering TikTok for download.( Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill, Senate Bill (SB) 419, into law on May 17.( The ban was blocked by US District Judge Donald W. Molloy on December 1, 2023, as he stated the ban "infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses". Due to the block, the ban did not come into effect [...] In 2020, the United States government announced that it was considering banning the Chinese social media platform TikTok upon a request from Donald Trump, the president of the United States, who viewed the app as a national security threat. The result was that the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance—which initially planned on selling a small portion of TikTok to an American company—agreed to divest TikTok to prevent a ban in the United States and in other countries where restrictions are also [...] As of April 2023,( at least 34 out of 50 states have announced or enacted bans on state government agencies, employees, and contractors using TikTok on government-issued devices. State bans only affect government employees and do not prohibit civilians from having or using the app on their personal devices.
- US TikTok Ban To Be Upheld if a Deal Isn't Finalized by Current ...
According to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the U.S. government is indeed planning to implement a full ban TikTok in America if a deal for its sale to a U.S. entity cannot be finalized by the current September 17th deadline, as per President Trump’s latest executive order to withhold enforcement of the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.” [...] Either way, we could be closing in on a critical impasse, which could define the future of TikTok for American users. And if TikTok does get banned in the U.S., it seems likely that other regions will eventually follow suit. Which could make sense, given the potential for TikTok to be utilized by Chinese state-backed groups in order to seed mis- and disinformation. [...] # Don't miss tomorrow's social media industry news Let Social Media Today's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. Social Media Today menu search search close search site logo # US TikTok Ban To Be Upheld if a Deal Isn’t Finalized by Current Deadline Post to LinkedIn Share on Facebook Post on X Print this page Email this page License this article
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