With TikTok under fire in the U.S. and concerns mounting across Europe, questions loom about whether Hungary might follow suit. While banning the app seems straightforward in theory, it’s far trickier in practice—especially in the EU.
Zsolt Ződi, a researcher at the Society Research Institute of Hungary’s National University of Public Service, told Magyar Nemzet that a TikTok ban in Hungary is unlikely anytime soon. “The Hungarian government—unlike U.S. leadership—currently enjoys good relations with China. If any restrictions arise, they’ll likely apply only to government officials, a measure not unheard of in Europe,” Ződi explained.
TikTok has already been banned for government officials in several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, and Norway. Globally, nations like Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan have blocked the platform outright. Concerns primarily center on how much access the Chinese Communist Party has to user data. “Chinese platforms are controlled by entrepreneurs aligned with the government and would never refuse a government request,” Ződi noted.
EU Scrutiny and the DSA
TikTok has also attracted the European Commission’s attention. In December, the Commission launched proceedings against the app for allegedly violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), particularly in relation to risks during elections. The investigation was spurred by the Romanian presidential election, where a TikTok-fueled candidate unexpectedly won the first round. Critics argue that the app’s opaque algorithm subtly amplifies propaganda, though Ződi emphasized that initiating a DSA procedure doesn’t signal an imminent ban. “The DSA applies to all platforms with over 45 million users. The EU doesn’t currently have the legal tools to outright ban TikTok,” he said.
TikTok’s massive global user base—1.6 billion active users, including 280 million in Europe—makes a ban politically challenging. However, the app’s role in spreading Chinese influence remains a point of contention.
The U.S. Perspective
Meanwhile, in the U.S., the situation is heating up. While TikTok hasn’t been banned, American officials have set a deadline for its Chinese owners to sell the app to a U.S. buyer. Washington wants a 51% stake to gain control of TikTok’s algorithm, but a deal has stalled due to disagreements over its value—estimated at around $20 billion annually.
Ződi explained that a full ban in the U.S. would have significant consequences, both politically and economically. Around seven million of TikTok’s 170 million American users depend on the platform financially, which complicates matters further.
Too Big to Fail?
TikTok’s popularity among users under 30 makes it a powerful tool for both cultural influence and political messaging. “The screen time on TikTok is outrageously high. It’s incredibly addictive,” Ződi said. Despite ongoing scrutiny and political tensions, he believes TikTok won’t collapse. “For an emerging global power like China, having the world’s youth reliant on its platform is a dream scenario,” he concluded.
While Hungary and much of Europe may be hesitant to outright ban TikTok, the app’s growing influence ensures that debates about its future are far from over.
