This week, the US House of Representatives approved legislation requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the social media platform or face a ban in the US. Experts suggest that this move could encourage African leaders to enact similar restrictions on the continent’s fastest-growing platform.
Lawmakers in Washington took action against ByteDance amidst allegations that the company, based in China, collects sensitive user data and censors content deemed unacceptable by the Chinese Communist Party, allegations that ByteDance consistently denies.
The legislation, pending approval by the US Senate, would prohibit app stores from hosting TikTok unless it is sold to a non-Chinese company.
While the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, its passage could significantly impact TikTok’s operations in Africa. Despite growing to become the continent’s second most-used platform after Facebook, TikTok has faced controversies in Africa, albeit for different reasons.
For instance, in Kenya, there was a significant backlash against TikTok, with a petition calling for its ban due to inappropriate content deemed to erode cultural and religious values. Although TikTok managed to avoid a complete ban, it was required to implement stricter measures to remove offensive content.
In contrast, TikTok has been completely blocked in Senegal and Somalia, while there are strong calls in Egypt and Uganda for similar actions.
The mistrust of TikTok by African governments stems from different concerns compared to those of the US administration. While US policymakers focus on national security implications and potential Chinese access to user data, African governments’ skepticism often relates to the uncontrolled nature of the platform and its content.
Some defend TikTok, arguing that restrictions imposed by certain African governments are politically motivated and infringe on free expression rights.
Rotimi Ogunyemi, a technology lawyer based in Lagos, points out that actions against TikTok in the US are often justified on national security grounds within a legal framework that protects free speech. Conversely, in Africa, bans or regulations on digital platforms are often driven by political control or suppression of dissent, raising concerns about digital rights and freedom of expression.
Mugambi Laibuta, an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and digital law expert, believes that the US ban on TikTok could embolden African countries to impose similar bans, citing political reasons. This could hinder economic growth as digital platforms like TikTok are instrumental for business innovation and development across the continent.
In summary, while the US’s actions against TikTok primarily focus on national security, their potential influence on African governments could result in restrictions driven by political motives, impacting both digital rights and economic growth.
