What's happened
President Joe Biden signed a bill that could result in a ban on TikTok from US app stores. Despite this, his re-election campaign plans to continue using the app to reach younger voters, implementing enhanced security measures. The campaign staff, not involved in national security matters, are allowed to use TikTok. The campaign's account has gained significant traction with over 306,000 followers.
Why it matters
The decision by Biden's campaign to continue using TikTok despite the potential ban highlights the importance of engaging with younger voters through social media platforms. The move also underscores the evolving challenges of balancing national security concerns with political outreach strategies. The outcome of the legal battle over TikTok's ban could have implications for the broader tech and internet landscape, shaping future regulations and practices.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post reports that Biden's campaign plans to stay on TikTok to reach younger voters, emphasizing the need to engage with voters online. The Independent highlights the campaign's intention to use TikTok with enhanced security measures despite the ban. Axios discusses the implications of the bill, forcing TikTok's parent company to divest from its US operations or face a ban, and the campaign's strategy to continue using the app.
How we got here
TikTok has been a subject of national security concerns, with the US government citing data risks and privacy issues due to its Chinese ownership. The bill signed by Biden requires ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest from its US operations or face a ban. The ongoing legal and political battle over TikTok reflects broader tensions between the US and China in the tech sector.
Common question
More on these topics
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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TikTok/Douyin is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based Internet technology company founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate