Should You Even Care If TikTok Has Your Data? Here’s What Cybersecurity Pros Say.

Some people want to ban the app for data security reasons, but does that really matter? Experts share what they think.

The end of TikTok in the United States could be a reality as the Supreme Court considers a law that would ban the app, which is based on concerns that the Chinese government could gain access to users’ data or influence the videos people see in their feeds.

“I really think the issue with the ban, from the government perspective, is more about the algorithm and the influence that a social media platform can have more so than them having the data,” said Alex Hamerstone, the advisory solutions director for TrustedSec, an ethical hacking company.

People are easily influenced, added Hamerstone, and TikTok is ripe with misinformation ranging from fake political videos to false health information. “So, I think just the ability to influence users is so great that the government’s worried about who controls that,” Hamerstone said.

But it’s worth noting that misinformation is rampant on other social media platforms, like Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company), recently announced that the company will do away with fact-checking, leaving room for more misinformation online. These apps, however, are not up for a ban.

Beyond misinformation and influence, Kevin Johnson, the CEO of Secure Ideas, a security testing and consulting company, thinks “TikTok made some people angry, and they decided that what they would do is they would ban TikTok.” Another argument for the ban is that “it’s for the ‘good of the children, it’s going to protect their privacy,’” Johnson said. “But the reality is, [a ban] is not going to protect anybody’s privacy.”