TikTok ban in EU ‘not excluded’ – von der Leyen — RT World News

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the European Union has not ruled out banning the Chinese-owned TikTok app. The official, who is seeking another term in June, claimed that the video hosting platform poses a threat, without elaborating.

Last Wednesday, US President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance, the China-based owner of TikTok, to sell the platform or ban it from app stores. Over the past few years, leaders in both the United States and the European Union have made numerous allegations about supposed security breaches and violations by TikTok, which has strongly denied the allegations.

Asked during a discussion in the Netherlands on Monday whether the European Union would ban TikTok if the United States went ahead with the measure, von der Leyen said: “It is not unlikely because the Commission was the first institution in the world to ban Tik Tok on our companies’ phones.”

“We know exactly how dangerous TikTok is.” She added, noting that the committee had “I've done a lot of regulation…to make sure that platforms take responsibility for the content they provide.”

Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement last Monday: “We believe TikTok 'Lite' can be as toxic and addictive as cigarette light.”

The European Union's executive body has opened a case against ByteDance over the TikTok Lite app. According to Brussels, the company failed to submit a mandatory risk assessment report.
ByteDance was given until May 3 to provide all the required information, with a fine of 1% of the company's annual income in the event of non-compliance. In February, the Commission launched another investigation regarding the protection of minors and the transparency of advertising and advertising. “Data access for researchers” And “Managing the risks of addictive design and harmful content.”

Commenting on the US legislation last week, TikTok's head of public policy for the Americas, Michael Beckerman, denounced the bill signed by Biden as a violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew issued a statement saying: “Make no mistake, this is a ban. A TikTok ban, a ban on you, and a ban on your voice… Rest assured, we are not going anywhere. We are confident that we will continue to fight for your rights in the courts. The facts and the Constitution are on our side, and we expect them to prevail.” “.