India politicians accuse TikTok of spreading fake news and sharing user data with China
TikTok has been accused by Indian politicians of sharing personal data of Indians with China and spreading fake news in the country.
The Madras court had previously ordered a ban on TikTok.
Shashi Tharoor, a MP from Congress Party, claimed TikTok was illegally collecting data and sending it to China, while Pinaki Mishra, a MP from the Biju Janata Dal party told Parliament the same thing.
“India has a neighbour who is hell-bent on collecting data and information from India. This is not going to benefit India but for their own benefit, their future,” Mishra said, according to ET Brand Equity.
Meanwhile, Jayadev Galla of the Telugu Desam Party, called for a ban on TikTok, accusing the app of posing a threat to India and its democratic process.
“Information and data are the new oil of 21st century. This is how society is going to be driven forward. So, whoever controls data will be in a powerful position to control our lives,” said Galla.
“Can you imagine the amount of information and data being collected by them?”
The Madras court had previously ordered a ban on TikTok after it found that the app failed to remove online predators, in line with a BBC investigation.
However, it later reversed its decision, subject to the condition that pornographic videos, and those on child abuse and women abuse will not be uploaded on it, failing which contempt of court proceedings would be initiated.