Is it ... terrifying?

這太可怕了。

#SaveTikTok.

#救救抖音

TikTokers have been taking to TikTok to express their fears over a potential US ban.

抖音人已經在抖音上表達了他們對美國可能封鎖抖音的恐懼。

Similar to India where the app was blocked in late June for cybersecurity concerns, they are worried they'll no longer have access to the fun music and video-driven app.

情況與 6 月底印度以網路安全考量為由封鎖了該程式，抖音人很怕他們再也無法使用這個音樂和影片所帶動的軟體。

The Trump administration has indicated that it's considering similar action or at least, limiting Americans' access to the popular app.

川普當局表示有考慮採取類似動作，或至少限縮美國人使用這個受歡迎的軟體。

With respect to Chinese apps on people's cell phones, I can assure you, the United States will get this one right too.

關於人們手機裡的這個中國軟體，我可以向你保證，美國在這方面一定會有所對策的。

So here's why the US is concerned about TikTok on American phones.

以下就是為什麼美國會擔心美國人手機中抖音的原因。

TikTok is China's first global social media sensation.

抖音是中國第一個引起全球炫風的社交媒體。

In just a few years, it has quickly vaulted into the top app download ranks, neck and neck with other popular apps.

於短短幾年內，抖音迅速躋身軟體下載量前段班，與其他受歡迎的軟體並駕齊驅。

But with this kind of popularity has come increased scrutiny from Washington.

但隨著其愈發受歡迎，華府方面也加強了審查機制。

TikTok collect(s) everything from the device you're using to access the app, your IP address, the messages exchanged with other users on the TikTok app itself.

抖音在當你使用該應用程式時會收集該設備上的一切資料，你的 IP 位置以及與其他用戶在程式內交流的訊息。

And to be very honest, that is not very different from what Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other social apps are collecting.

而非常誠實地說，這與 Facebook、YouTube 和 Twitter 所收集的用戶資訊並沒有太大的差別。

The difference with TikTok is its ownership.

差別在於抖音的所有權。

Its parent company is ByteDance, which is based in Beijing.

它的母公司是位於北京的「字節跳動」。

TikTok doesn't have a headquarters, although its CEO sits in Los Angeles.

抖音並沒有公司總部，雖然他的執行長住在洛杉磯。

China's legal system allows it to request user data from companies.

中國的法律制度允許該公司來讀取用戶資訊。

What worries foreign governments is the fact that the firewall between user data and the Chinese government is completely removed because of these laws.

讓國外政府最為擔憂的是，抖音的用戶數據和中國政府之間的防火牆因中國法律而完全消失。

And that means American private data might end up in the hands of the Chinese government.

而這也意味著美國的私人資料可能會落入中國政府手中。

What Beijing could do next with this trove of American data is also a concern.

北京之後會如何利用這些美國的資訊也令人擔憂。

US officials are concerned that the Chinese government could be building a vast database of information based off whatever they've gotten from TikTok users.

美國政府擔心中國政府會利用任何透過抖音獲得的使用者資料來建立一個巨大的資料庫。

And that pool of information might be potentially used for more nefarious means, such as espionage.

而這個資料庫也可能被用在更多邪惡的用途上，例如間諜行動。

TikTok has said that the Chinese government has never asked the company for user data and would refuse such a request.

抖音表示，中國政府從未要求公司提供用戶數據，並將拒絕該請求。

The company also said its data on American users is held in servers outside of China, in the US and Singapore.

公司也表示美國的用戶數據是存於中國境外的伺服器，分別位於美國和新加坡。

There are also concerns about freedom of expression.

抖音在言論自由方面也有所顧慮。

Among the fun, quirky videos uploaded to TikTok every day, some users say that some videos have been censored.

在所有每天被上傳的有趣又古怪的影片中，某些用戶表示部分影片都被加以審查。

The Journal found that in the last two years, employees at TikTok followed rules that included striking out content that was in line with censorship norms in China.

《華爾街日報》發現，在過去兩年中，抖音的員工遵循公司規則，其中包括刪除符合中國審查制度規範的內容。

For example, showing tattoos or excessive cleavage and politically sensitive topics, including the Hong Kong protests or Tiananmen Square.

例如露出刺青、過度暴露或政治敏感話題，包括香港示威事件或天安門事件。

Recently, the app has been censoring other types of content too.

最近，這個應用程式也審查了其他的影片內容。

We found one US user who said she was banned from her account because she had kissed her girlfriend on the cheek.

我們發現一位美國用戶說她的影片被禁播了，因為她親吻了女友的臉頰。

And this happened during a live stream on TikTok.

而這是在抖音直播時發生的。

And TikTok basically told her after that her account was banned for serious pornography.

而事後，抖音基本上告訴她是因為嚴重的色情內容導致她的帳號被封鎖。

TikTok said that moderation decisions are in an effort to keep the tone on the app lighthearted and not in the name of censorship.

抖音表示這些決定都是為了維持程式內輕鬆愉悅的氛圍，而不是因為審查制度而做。

TikTok isn't facing only scrutiny from the US.

抖音不單單受到美國的審查。

TikTok is facing a possible ban in Australia.

它同時也有可能被澳洲封鎖。

The Dutch Data Protection Agency is launching an investigation into TikTok.

荷蘭數據保護局正對抖音展開調查。

While pressure grows, TikTok is taking measures to distance itself from its Chinese roots.

隨著面對的壓力漸增，抖音正想辦法與中國保持距離。

There's now an American CEO at the head of TikTok.

現在，抖音是由一位美國人執行長來擔任抖音的負責人。

His name is Kevin Mayer and he comes from Disney.

他叫做 Kevin Mayer，來自迪士尼。

And ByteDance is also considering other changes to its corporate structure.

而字節跳動也同時在考慮改變組織結構。

People familiar with the discussions tell us that ByteDance is thinking of establishing a headquarters for TikTok outside of China.

熟悉抖音情勢的人們告訴我們，字節跳動正思考在中國境外建立總部。

As the US and China clash over coronavirus, citizens' rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, the South China Sea and trade, tech has become a major sticking point.

隨著美國與中國之間因新冠肺炎而起的衝突、香港和新疆的人權問題、中國南海和貿易問題，科技方面已成為關鍵。

And after Huawei and ZTE, TikTok has become the latest giant to be threatened by the US government.

在華為和中興通訊之後，抖音現已成為美國政府嚴加看管的主要目標。

And the ones who have watched particularly closely how TikTok handles the politics of the global marketplace will be its fellow Chinese tech companies.

而那些特別關注抖音是如何處理全球市場政治的人，將會是其他中國的科技公司。

What's really interesting here is that by ByteDance is arguably the most successful Chinese Internet export

最有趣的是，抖音可以說是中國網路最成功的出口產品。

And should the app be banned, it doesn't bode well for other Chinese companies who are seeking to go global.

而且如果該應用程序被禁止使用，對於其他尋求全球化的中國公司來說並不是一件好事。