Scrutiny of TikTok intensifies over data and security

Scrutiny of the popular short-video app TikTok intensified this year over concerns about data and security, as governments in several countries raised questions about the app, foreshadowing moves toward restrictions and potential bans that would become a significant theme in the years that followed.

TikTok had grown into one of the most popular apps in the world, particularly among younger users, but its ownership and the handling of its users' data drew growing concern among officials in various countries, who worried about data security and potential influence.

The concerns centred on questions about where and how the app stored and handled the data of its users, about the potential for that data to be accessed, and about the broader implications of the app's enormous reach and influence, particularly among young people.

In response to these concerns, governments and institutions in various places took or considered measures ranging from restrictions on the app's use on official devices to broader proposals for limits or bans, amid debate about the appropriate response.

The company, for its part, sought to address the concerns, emphasising measures to protect user data and its independence, while contending with the scrutiny and the proposed restrictions, in an effort to reassure officials and to preserve its access to markets.

The intensifying scrutiny of TikTok reflected broader concerns about data, security and the influence of digital platforms, as well as geopolitical tensions, and it foreshadowed the significant moves toward restrictions and bans that would unfold. The episode highlighted the complex intersection of technology, data, security and geopolitics surrounding the platforms, and the growing willingness of governments to act on concerns about the apps that had become central to digital life, a notable development in the governance of the platforms.