TikTok on the Apple app store Jan. 10, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOX VALLEY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Supreme Court heard arguments Friday surrounding a potential ban of TikTok in the United States.
TikTok says a national security law requiring it to be sold by its Chinese parent company violates the First Amendment.
The app is used by a lot of small businesses, including many in Northeast Wisconsin. A ban could cause problems for those that use it for free marketing and promotion.
While there are cybersecurity concerns surrounding TikTok, businesses like Tria Frog Treats in Greenville are also very reliant on the app and don’t want to see it go away.
“I disagree with the ban on it. I think a lot of small businesses use that free advertising to get a broader reach across the country, across the state,” owner Tricia Hermsen said.
Hermsen is a big believer in using a social media presence to grow your business, especially on TikTok. She thinks a TikTok ban would be government overreach and said the security risks don’t outweigh the app’s benefit to small businesses.
“The data that TikTok has, maybe on myself or as a business, isn’t going to warrant maybe somebody hacking my credit or anything else, so I don’t feel that it’s a threat,” Hermsen said.
While Hermsen loves what TikTok has to offer for her business and others, she’s been slowing her roll on the app because of its uncertain future. She’s been pivoting towards Facebook until a decision is made, but she knows other businesses will be hit hard.
“If that goes away, they’re kind of fearing that they’ll see a large reduction in their incomes,” Hermsen said.
U.S. cybersecurity concerns with ByteDance’s TikTok first started in 2017. China implemented a national intelligence law that said companies headquartered in China must report any data requests back to the government.
“I think most of the concern stems from the lack of transparency with how TikTok collects our data and what they may do with it,” Fox Valley Technical College cybersecurity instructor Tyler Baeten said.
Baeten warns that TikTok collects an excessive amount of data from users unlike any other app, including fingerprints, face ID biometric data and metadata. Because of this, he suggests people delete the app.
“To have my biometric data, to have my microphone or screen being potentially recorded for me, it’s just not worth the risk,” he said.
If a ban does happen, TikTok will no longer be available in U.S. app stores. For those who already have it, the app will gradually deteriorate. Despite security concerns, a ban would be a letdown for users. Some say to just let the American people be their own judge.
“Let it be. If somebody knows the security risks that they’re taking and they’re okay with it, then let them take those risks,” Fox Valley Technical College student Michelle Villarreal said.
The U.S. isn’t the only country to consider banning TikTok. India and Nepal already have active bans on the app for similar reasons.
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