Why the TikTok Ban Is a Terrible Idea

Depending on your perspective, TikTok is either a hub for hilarious videos or a tool of a Chinese Communist Party intent on harvesting the personal data of everyone in the United States.It’s the latter belief system that drove at least some votes when Congress passed a bill that would force TikTok owner ByteDance to divest its holdings if it wants to keep the app available in the United States.The legislation, which President Biden signed into law on April 24, is built on misconceptions about how TikTok operates. Worse, it does nothing to protect people’s privacy or blunt the widespread manipulation users face across platforms, including those owned and headquartered in the United States. Here’s the lowdown on what’s happening and why it matters.Is TikTok getting banned?Supporters of the law claim that they’re just trying to get the app under new ownership, citing “national security” concerns. But make no mistake: The law’s requirements are so burdensome that they would result in a de...