The incredibly popular Chinese app TikTok may soon be forced to leave the United States as a measure to ban the video-sharing app has been approved by Congress and is now on its way to President Joe Biden for his approval.
In India, TikTok was banned almost four years ago. Here’s what happened.
Why Was TikTok Banned in India?
In June 2020, TikTok users in India said goodbye to the app, which is owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance. The Indian government suddenly banned the app, along with many other Chinese apps, following a military clash along the China-India border. The government cited privacy concerns and stated that Chinese apps posed a threat to India’s sovereignty and security.
The ban received widespread support in India, with many calling for a boycott of Chinese goods after the border clash.
Just before the ban, India had also restricted investments from Chinese companies. “Today, India has banned over 500 Chinese apps to date,” said digital policy expert Nikhil Pahwa.
How Did Users and Creators React?
At the time of the ban, India had around 200 million TikTok users, the most outside of China. The ban created a market opportunity for other platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, which mimicked TikTok’s short-form video content.
Despite missing TikTok, many creators and users moved on to other platforms like Instagram, where they found success.
How Is India’s Ban Different From the U.S.?
The U.S. legislation to ban TikTok gives ByteDance nine months to sell the app before a ban goes into effect. The situation in the U.S. is different from India, with potential court challenges and First Amendment rights complicating the process.
As concerns about Chinese apps grow worldwide, countries like India and the U.S. are reevaluating their relationships with these apps and considering national security implications.
TikTok is also banned in Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan, and restricted in many European countries.
There is a need for different rules for democratic countries compared to authoritarian regimes when it comes to dealing with Chinese apps that may pose national security risks.