How TikTok Became a Matter of National Security

TikTok, the app known for short videos of lip syncing, dancing and bread baking, is one of the most popular platforms in the country, used by one out of every three Americans.

In recent weeks, the Biden administration has threatened to ban it over concerns that it poses a threat to national security.

Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, a business reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

• TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, is being investigated over possible spying on journalists.
• Why countries are trying to ban TikTok.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.