TikTok, a popular app where people make and watch short videos, is in trouble with the US government. The government says that TikTok has been collecting information about what users think about important topics, like guns, abortion, and religion. The government also says that TikTok's parent company in China tells them what to censor or remove from the app. TikTok says that they are not breaking any laws and that they will fight against any ban. Some important people in the US, like the former president and the vice president, have joined TikTok, but there are concerns about the safety of the app and the possibility of it being used to influence people's opinions. Read from source...
AI's article story critics, highlighted inconsistencies, biases, irrational arguments, emotional behavior:
- The US Justice Department has made its most forceful case yet against TikTok, alleging that the social media platform has been collecting data on its users' views on sensitive topics such as gun control, abortion, and religion. This is in response to a federal lawsuit filed by TikTok in May.
- The Justice Department also claims that TikTok has been censoring content under the direction of its China-based parent company, ByteDance, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- A senior Justice Department official said, "The collection of data from Americans is not a protected activity."
- The filings also revealed a software tool that allows US employees of TikTok and ByteDance to collect user information based on content, including views on sensitive topics.
- A senior US intelligence official, Casey Blackburn, wrote in a filing supporting the government's stance, "Intelligence reporting further demonstrates that ByteDance and TikTok Global have taken action in response to PRC (People's Republic of China) demands to censor content outside of China."
- TikTok has defended itself, stating that a TikTok ban would violate the First Amendment rights of its 170 million US users and expressed confidence in prevailing in court. TikTok has also said that its US algorithm is stored with its American partner, Oracle. However, the Justice Department argues that TikTok's plan to store US user data on domestic servers is inadequate.
Negative
Article's Headline: TikTok Tracks Views Of US Users On Gun Control, Abortion And Religion, Says Justice Department: 'Collection Of Data From Americans Is Not A Protected Activity'
Key points:
- Justice Department accuses TikTok of collecting data on users' views on sensitive topics such as gun control, abortion, and religion
- TikTok denies the allegations and says its US algorithm is stored with its American partner, Oracle
- The Justice Department claims that TikTok has been censoring content under the direction of its China-based parent company, ByteDance
- The allegations come amid growing popularity of TikTok among high-profile US figures such as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris
- The US government has said that the TikTok algorithm poses a national security risk, warning of possible exploitation by the Chinese government for large-scale influence operations in the US
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also suggested the possibility of a TikTok ban within the EU
### Final answer: Negative