TikTok: Ban is also being discussed in Germany

TikTok is increasingly being criticized in this country. The fear of Chinese espionage and influence via the app is too great. This is why there is now a public debate about regulating the portal for short videos more strictly or even banning it.

Different approaches to TikTok

The topic of cyber security is currently the focus of public and political attention in Germany. There are several reasons for this. After a conversation between high-ranking German military officials was intercepted by the Russian secret service, the Parliamentary Control Committee felt compelled to issue a public warning about Russian cyber attacks.

The security committee emphasized the urgent need to place more emphasis on security when dealing with technical aids. However, it is clearly not just Russia’s hybrid warfare that people are afraid of. China is also seen as a potential attacker. For this reason, there is currently a heated debate in this country about how to deal with TikTok.

However, the handling of the short video portal could hardly be more different. As the AfD primarily uses TikTok to successfully advertise for potential young voters, many politicians from other parties feel obliged to also appear on the platform. However, there are also other voices from politicians who rigorously rule out registering on TikTok in the first place.

Ban already in sight in the USA

In the CDU, however, there is a strong need for action against TikTok. The accusations here are serious. The opposition party accuses the network of being used “specifically for espionage and data interception”. Roderich Kiesewetter (CDU) says that “a fundamental ban on TikTok” is necessary if “stricter regulation cannot be implemented efficiently”.

The vice-chairman of the Bundestag’s intelligence control committee emphasizes that both China and Russia use the platform. In order to prevent espionage and data theft, a ban on official cell phones used by government employees is essential. Similar discussions have been taking place in US politics for some time now.

Here, ByteDance is accused of having established a threat to national security in the USA with TikTok. The fear of espionage and influence peddling is also great there. Accordingly, a law is currently being passed to ban the platform. The network could only escape such a ban if a buyer could be found to operate it from the USA.

SPD in favor of a ban on company cell phones

Other parliamentary groups in the Bundestag are also rather skeptical about the app. However, a general ban is not up for debate here. According to Konstantin Notz, Chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee, this would also be difficult to enforce. The SPD also advocates a restriction at state level.

Jens Zimmerman, digital expert for the SPD parliamentary group, believes that it makes sense to impose “generally binding bans on use in the federal administration”. However, one has to ask why Chancellor Olaf Schilz (SPD) and Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) recently announced their intention to take action on TikTok.