TikTok Given Little Room to Maneuver as Broad Fears of Chinese Surveillance Prevail
August 16, 2020 | BY
Vincent ChowThe case against TikTok is the latest example of growing U.S. scrutiny of the overseas operations of Chinese companies amid worsening relations between the two countries. The U.S. is especially concerned about potential Chinese access to the personal data of U.S. citizens.
TikTok is shaping up to be yet another casualty in the ongoing U.S.-China conflict.
The popular video-sharing app is fighting for its survival in the U.S. as the Trump administration inches closer to banning it from the market. But the lack of clarity in the legal bases for the sweeping actions is leaving the Chinese-owned company with limited options to respond.
"The real point of dispute for TikTok is that it's a Chinese-owned company, therefore the U.S. government believes the Chinese government has access to the data under Chinese law," said Jason Waite, an international trade and investment partner at Alston & Bird in Washington, D.C.
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