TikTok Complying With Ban, Claims Not Sharing Users' Data

In a statement on the microblogging site Twitter, the head of TikTok India, Nikhil Gandhi issued an update stating that it would meet with government stakeholders for "an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications". The statement says that TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law. It further claims that a TikTok has not shared any information of its users in India with any foreign governments including China.

The statement refers to the Government of India order banning 59 apps and stated that TikTok was my "in the process of complying with the ban." It states that they had been invited to meet government stakeholders in order to be able to respond and submit clarifications.

The TikTok statement adds that if it is requested to do so in the future they would not share any data related to users as they placed the highest importance on user privacy and integrity. The statement further states that "TikTok has democratised the internet by making it available in 14 Indian languages with hundreds of millions of users, artists, storytellers, educators and performers depending on it for their livelihood." It points out that many of them are first-time internet users.

The Centre on Monday banned 59 apps which have links to China including popular ones such as a TikTok and SHAREit. The government of India stated that these apps were prejudicial to the sovereignty integrity and security of the country. A Government panel is likely to hear out representatives of TikTok, SHAREit and other banned apps within 48 hours.