A group of MPs in France has called on the government to ban the popular video-sharing platform TikTok, citing concerns over its data protection practices and its potential influence on public opinion.

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has more than 800 million active users worldwide, who create and share short videos on various topics, such as music, dance, comedy and education. The app has been praised for its creativity and diversity, but also criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.

The MPs, who belong to the right-wing Les Républicains party, have submitted a draft resolution to the National Assembly, asking the government to prohibit the use of TikTok in France. They argue that the app poses a threat to the national security and sovereignty of France, as well as to the privacy and rights of its users.

According to the resolution, TikTok collects massive amounts of personal data from its users, such as their location, contacts, browsing history and biometric information. The MPs claim that this data could be used by the Chinese government for espionage or propaganda purposes, or to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries.

The resolution also accuses TikTok of spreading misinformation and harmful content, such as hate speech, violence, extremism and conspiracy theories. The MPs say that the app’s algorithm favors sensationalist and divisive content, which could manipulate the opinions and emotions of young and vulnerable audiences.

The MPs urge the government to take action against TikTok, following the example of other countries that have banned or restricted the app, such as India, Pakistan, Indonesia and the United States. They also call for a European-wide response to regulate TikTok and other similar platforms.

The resolution is expected to be debated in the National Assembly in the coming weeks. However, it is unlikely to be adopted, as Les Républicains is in opposition and does not have a majority in the parliament. Moreover, the government has not expressed any intention to ban TikTok so far.

TikTok has denied any wrongdoing and said that it respects the laws and regulations of each country where it operates. The company has also said that it does not share any user data with the Chinese government or any other third party.