Estonia Calls for Europe-Wide TikTok Ban

Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, has urged European nations to consider banning TikTok, following the United States' recent decision to prohibit the platform.

His statement highlights growing concerns over the app's potential misuse and security risks across the continent.

TikTok has been criticized for its role in spreading disinformation and allegedly influencing elections.

Many experts and policymakers believe the app’s vast data collection poses significant threats to national security. Estonia’s call for action reflects fears that similar risks could affect European nations if the platform remains unrestricted.

Over the weekend, TikTok users in the United States reported that the app had been removed from the App Store and was no longer functional.

This comes after a law banning TikTok was enacted, making it inaccessible to American users.

The situation escalated as TikTok threatened to halt its operations in the US unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sold the app to an American entity. This ultimatum followed a ruling by the US Supreme Court to ban the platform over security and privacy concerns.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, expressed frustration with the lack of clarity from the Biden administration and the Department of Justice.

The company stated that without clear guidance, providing uninterrupted service to its 170 million American users has become increasingly difficult.