'India has banned it, US can't be last country ...': Nikki Haley on Chinese app TikTok

NEW DELHI: Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley described Chinese-owned app TikTok as "dangerous" and pointed out that US can't fall behind other countries in banning the app.
Haley, who was the former US Ambassador to the UN, highlighted that countries like India and Nepal have already banned the social media platform, urging the US to follow suit.
“ ...India has banned it. You had Nepal just banned it because it was causing social disruption. America can't be the last country to ban TikTok. Let's end it now and stop it so it doesn't hurt our children any further,” Haley said in response to a question.
During a recent Fox News town hall, Haley emphasized that China has control over TikTok, which raises concerns about privacy and security.
She explained that having the app on one's phone allows China to access personal information such as finances, contacts, and online activity, influencing what content users see and hear.
She also stressed the need to protect children from potential harm by banning TikTok in the US.
Several US lawmakers have raised concerns over the app and accused TikTok and other social media platforms of spreading harmful content and failing to safeguard children's mental health online.
Despite these concerns, TikTok remains popular among young people, including those of voting age.
According to Pew Research data released in late 2023, a significant number of 18-29 year-olds in the US rely on TikTok as a news source.
(With inputs from PTI)