TikTok: Trump’s Approval Avoided Ban, But Is The App Now Safe?

The TikTok app is still available to download and for use within the United States. TikTok is actually here to stay as President Trump has approved the recent partnership deal between TikTok and Oracle. However, the approval was ‘in concept’ and other agencies continue to review the deal. Nonetheless, Trump’s approval came just in time to avoid a ban that had been set to be implemented against the rising social media giant.

While Trump has approved and the ban has not taken place, some still worry whether or not the deal has actually addressed the original national security concerns. The original concerns regarded TikTok’s relationship to the Chinese state as well as potential use of it as an instrument of Chinese surveillance operations. However, the partnership with Oracle is reportedly designed to insulate U.S. user data from TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The deal involves ByteDance, Oracle, and Walmart coming together as ‘TikTok Global,’ even though ByteDance will remain the majority owner.

NPR quotes Chris Kelly, the former chief privacy officer at Facebook, who indicates that there ought to be ongoing concerns about ByteDance’s ability to access personal data. Kelly is also quoted as mentioning the ongoing ability of China to put pressure on ByteDance. These comments build upon earlier comments from members of Congress as well as within agencies within the executive branch. Thus, as always, there is still risk involved, but Oracle’s role at TikTok is specifically to reduce these risks and to provide peace of mind to American consumers.

Have The National Security Concerns Been Resolved?

Despite Kelly’s comments, Oracle can remain vigilant in monitoring and preventing any data leakage. The company will not only be TikTok’s ‘Trusted Technology Provider,’ but also Trump and America’s. It’s longstanding reputation as a company providing reliable security solutions within the tech sector, such as its rapid responses with Zoom during the rush to adopt the software around the world during the initial descent into the coronavirus crisis, provides evidence of this fact.

As such, until further information is revealed, lay observers of the TikTok drama are probably correct to believe that the security concerns have been addressed. Additionally, as executive agencies continue to review the finer details of the agreement, citizens can expect to be made aware of any alarming details that might be lurking within the deal and beyond the current awareness. As TikTok Global takes shape, Oracle’s role becomes clearer, and security is demonstrated, the answer will become more definite.

Source: NPR

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