TikTok is banned in the USA. The US Supreme Court has this, confirmed. This means that TikTok will soon no longer be able to be downloaded from the app stores in the USA. What does this mean for Germany and could a ban like this come to us too?
What does a TikTok ban mean for us?
The ban in the USA initially has no impact on European TikTok users.
However, users in this country must expect that they will soon no longer be able to find their favorite creators on TikTok if they live in the USA. And that will probably affect some people in Germany, at least they will benefit from itaccording to Statista120 million Americans use the social media app.
In a certain way, however, the impending ban is already being felt in this country. As a precaution, many creators have asked their fans to change platforms.
In the USA, Chinese apps in particular benefit from thisRedNote and Lemon8benefits. But RedNote is also climbing the ranks in Germany these daysPlatz 3of free apps in the App Store and onPlatz 4im Google Play Store.
Will TikTok soon be banned in Germany?
The short answer is: probably not.
In the USA, the protection of national security is the reason for the ban. Media expert Falk Steiner explainsin an interview with DeutschlandfunkHowever, it is still not entirely clear what exactly the threat to national security posed by TikTok is.
Even though there are certainly legitimate reservations about TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance, the showdown between the USA and the emerging superpower China certainly plays a significant role in the ban.
Nevertheless, TikTok is also viewed critically in Europe. However, compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (usually abbreviated as DSA) play a more important role in the EU. The EU Commission has also been working on the app since February 2024. It worksaccording to the Stuttgarter Nachrichtenespecially the following points:
- Youth protection: The EU is investigating whether TikTok is taking sufficient measures against addictive designs and harmful content. Age verification for young users is particularly critical.
- Transparency in advertising: TikTok has been criticized for failing to clearly label political advertising and provide a searchable registry of ads, potentially violating the DSA.
- Influence on elections: The EU is examining whether TikTok ensures sufficient transparency regarding political content and takes measures against election manipulation.
Falk Steiner points out that TikTok has to fulfill certain obligations under the DSA. For example, the platform must protect against so-calledsystemic risks
proceed, otherwise you may face fines. Theoretically, TikTok could even be temporarily switched off under certain circumstances. According to Steiner, this is extremely unlikely.
What's next for us with TikTok?
Even though a ban at EU level is currently extremely unlikely, Chinese parent company ByteDance must prove that it is willing to comply with European laws. Politicians in Germany also called for itin spring 2024for national security interests to take action against TikTok.
However, such claims must be well founded in order to stand up in court. Given the situation in the USA, such voices can be expected again these days. As long as TikTok adheres to applicable law, such demands will probably have no consequences.
What do you think about the TikTok ban in the USA? Is the USA just taking action against a systemic rival? Or would you also welcome a ban in Europe? Write it to us in the comments!
