Pres. Biden recently made clear his intention to thwart China’s use of U.S.-based Chinese businesses as potential sources of intelligence data. Although the new POTUS appears to be upholding ex-president Trump’s ban by expanding the scope of Chinese businesses affected by the exclusions, Tik Tok is absent from the new list announced last June 04, 2021.

President Biden approved the move to apply restrictions on dealings and investments with 59 China-based entities, led by Huawei, Greatwall, China Telecom Corporation and other Chinese companies. The basis for their ban is their link to Chinese military-industrial complexes and vulnerability to China’s cybersecurity law of supplying user information to the Chinese Communist Party as needed, or upon request.

In addition to concerns over the threats posed to national security, President Biden deplores the use of Chinese surveillance systems and technology outside of China, as means to facilitate repression, or to commit dire human rights abuses, since they constitute extraordinary and unusual threats.

Could Tik Tok’s New Privacy Policy Draw Further Scrutiny from the New Administration?

Although Tik Tok is not included in the current list of banned Chinese businesses, it’s still possible that it’s app and data-collection systems will be reassessed in a forthcoming stage.

Tik Tok’s new provision in the customer’s privacy policy will allow the app to collect biometric information and identifiers such as faceprints and voiceprints. These are actually the technical information required by the CCP from any Chinese-owned company and therefore could revive the issues raised by the Trump administration against Tik Tok.

It is also possible that the new Tik Tok provisions will draw the attention of some lawmakers in Congress. Mainly because the new ban issued by President Biden could heighten the existing tension between the U.S. and China. What about Oracle and Microsoft’s bid to acquire ownership of North-America-facing Tik Tok operations, could affect pursuit of negotiations.