President Joe Biden's administration has issued a warning against the social media platform TikTok.

The federal government called on TikTok owners to sell their shares or face a nationwide ban, according to a TikTok spokesperson.

NPR reported that it was the first time that the Biden administration has explicitly threatened to ban TikTok, with the new demand projected to face a legal challenge from TikTok.

The TikTok spokesperson noted that the social media company is "disappointed in the outcome" of the new demand from officials.

The tension between TikTok and government officials comes from the concern that users' data is not properly safeguarded.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. has been reviewing the matter for two years.

As a response, TikTok has allotted $1.5 billion on a plan known as "Project Texas," which would impose a "stronger firewall" between TikTok and employees of its parent company.

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Demand on TikTok

In 2020, former President Donald Trump tried to ban TikTok but was blocked by the courts.

The Guardian reported that 60% of global investors own by ByteDance, while the remaining 40% are distributed between employees and founders.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) unanimously recommended in 2020 that ByteDance sell TikTok from its portfolio. 

In a statement, TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said divestment will not solve the problem if protecting national security is the goal.

Oberwetter noted that a change in ownership will not impose new restrictions when it comes to data and access.

TikTok noted that the "best way to address concerns about national security" is by providing "transparent, U.S.-based protection" of user data and systems.

The social media company also said there should be "robust third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification."

TikTok Ban

In 2020, TikTok also faced another ban when an order published by the U.S. Department of Commerce noted that the social media platform will be barred from software updates and distribution in the U.S., Business Insider reported.

The 2020 order noted that TikTok could disappear from the app stores of Apple and Google smartphone users. In addition, any updates to the app may not be processed.

Donald Trump repeatedly insisted that TikTok is collecting information from users in the United States and feeding that information to the Chinese government.

TikTok grew to over 100 million users in the U.S. in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. TikTok has repeatedly argued that it does not share with the Chinese government. 

However, the company's remarks have not been enough to appease lawmakers. CNET reported that Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray said in November that the app could be used to "control data collection on millions of users."

Wray noted that it could also control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used to influence operations if they choose to do so.

Other countries, like Canada, the EU, and Taiwan, have already banned the social media app. It was also banned from being used on government-issued devices or networks in some U.S. states, such as Virginia and Georgia.

READ MORE: New TikTok Challenge Being Looked at As Authorities Respond to Series of Violent Online Threats Against Schools

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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