China vs America: The fight over TikTok & the New Cold War

TikTok, the Chinese video sharing app used by more than a billion people around the world, has become a battleground in a new Cold War between Washington and Beijing. Its detractors argue it has become a weapon of propaganda and data-gathering, though the company denies sharing user data with the Chinese government.

The app has already been purged from British and American government phones, and next year one US State is taking a step further: to remove TikTok from the app store altogether. In my latest documentary for The Telegraph, I went to Montana to investigate why they are taking the unprecedented move, and how it fits into a broader fight between Chinese hawks and doves across the West.

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[boonedockjourneyman]

Asking professional TikTok’s about a ban is like asking drunks about a new prohibition. Idiotic.

[aldamann]

The guy saying he's learnt loads about history from TikTok saying it like it's the only place to access this information? How did he think this was good reasoning for using TikTok?
Also why not use any of the other apps for expressing yourself that do the exact same thing? Why does it have to be the communist associated app?
Am i missing something?

[assertivekarma]

I often despise British media. It's not just the US that is worried about nefarious Chinese behaviour, but any respectable country that cares about security and important principles. The US is just the most likely to step up to the challenge in beginning.

[abeeadelpour]

Yes, the champion of the free market when suit them…

[WalkOverHotCoal]

The dramas centered around TikTok is rather similar to the constant talk of de-risking from China. Put it simply, people CHOSE to use TikTok because it serves their needs. Everyone knows that MacDonald's is NOT a health food joint, yet long queues formed outside their outlets. Why? Because that is what people want despite all the health warnings.

The land of the free, free speech, personal freedom, democracy of the world, chooses the easiest way out...banning. But one should be surprised because sanctions/banning are what the US is rather good at.

Let's throw a challenge to the US authorities. Ban TikTok outright, and see what the outrage would be like. De-risking from TikTok?

[ramimbintybindu]

Tik tok was stopped not banned(as i ai'n a buisnessman, i'm an influencer)...

[Fjdhdhdhdh]

Americans people most of all similar to tic tokers

[martinsnnaji]

🎶Interior crocodile alligator, TikTok is a covert surveillance aggregator 🎶

[tharealrebels]

God western propaganda is so lazy these days!

[tharealrebels]

What does he mean by the “free world?” Does he mean the white countries?