Tik Tok, the Chinese-owned social media platform, has taken the U.S. by storm with nearly two thirds of American teenagers currently active on the app. Through a national security lens, Tik Tok is a giant red flag – Congress is advancing legislation to enable a nationwide ban over growing data-privacy concerns. But would a flat ban actually hurt more than it helps? This week, host Elisa welcomes Glenn Gerstell, former General Counsel at the National Security Agency. Together they examine Tik Tok's business model, what user data the company collects, and why concerns over transparency are legitimate. What does Tik Tok know about us? Is it just government employees that should be concerned? And is a nationwide flat ban just a slippery slope for future social media legislation?

Glenn Gerstell is former General Counsel at the National Security Agency:

https://glenngerstell.com/#about

References:

Gerstell, G. S. (2022, March 4). I've dealt with foreign cyberattacks. America isn't ready for what's coming. The New York Times:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SXtaBja2gqC2Q8smFBNNJ3OIQyhG_bOV/view?usp=share_link

Gerstell, G. S. (2020, November 13). The national-security case for fixing social media. The New Yorker:

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-national-security-case-for-fixing-social-media

CBS Interactive. (n.d.). NSA's former top lawyer on understanding electronic surveillance - "Intelligence matters". CBS News:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nsas-former-top-lawyer-on-understanding-electronic-surveillance-intelligence-matters/

Glenn S. Gerstell: A tiktok ban won't solve our problems. The Salt Lake Tribune. (2023, February 5):

https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2023/02/05/glenn-s-gerstell-tiktok-ban-wont/