Two years after former President Donald Trump called for a ban on TikTok, Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio this week introduced legislation that would impose a national ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform that has become immensely popular with young Americans.
“I want to ban TikTok for a very simple reason,” Rubio said in a short video posted on social media on Wednesday. “They allow – the Chinese Communist Party – to gain access to all of the private data on any device in America that’s using TikTok. That’s our kids. That’s phones connected to our kids’ phones, and that’s a national security threat but it’s a direct threat to our way of life, our economics. It’s allowed them to interfere in midterm elections. This company should be banned. I don’t know why they’re allowed to operate in the United States.”
Rubio’s bill goes beyond targeting China, however.
The proposal calls for blocking and prohibiting all transactions from any social media company in, or under the influence of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela. It has bipartisan support, as it’s being sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in Illinois.
FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional committee last month that he is “extremely concerned” about TikTok’s operations in the U.S.
“We do have national security concerns at least from the FBI’s end about TikTok,” Wray told members of the House Homeland Security Committee, according to CNBC. “They include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users. Or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so choose. Or to control software on millions of devices, which gives it opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices.”
Brendan Carr, one of five members of the Federal Communications Commission, has also been calling for a national ban on TikTok. In June, he asked Google and Apple to remove TikTock from their app stores, citing similar concerns expressed by Rubio.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation that would ban the use of TikTok on government related phones and devices. The House would need to approve that legislation as well.
Paul says
Um, again, dems are calling for its ban too. The readers of Flaglerlive would better served is the outward liberal bias was dropped.
Robert Joseph Fortier says
Good move, if they can get it done. Time to go back to the pasts a bit, when there was more humanity, kindness, and concern for others.
No one needs this stupid app…get a life.
Robert Joseph Fortier says
“pasts” = “past”…lol
Michael Cocchiola says
Hey, Senator Rubio… what about those “freedoms” you Republicans keep talking about? You complained about pre-Musk Twitter excluding conservatives. Now you’re trying to exclude millions of our young citizens from Tik Tok.
‘Fess up. Are you just trying to drive people to the new right-wing propaganda outlet… Twitter?
Laurel says
Radio Free America!
Instead of trying to ban everything, and legislate lives, how about education, without bias or misinformation? Educate these young users and what the possibilities are. Yes, it’s true the Chinese are listening and collecting data, but I’m not sure what they are going to do with how many peanuts some kid can stuff up his nose.
Yep, another ban. The government continues to narrow your scope. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: no matter which party is in charge, you lose more of your freedoms.
Bill says
So an ” American” version of Tic Tok will be created…and the Chinese will hack into that. Meh
Laurel says
Actually, if anyone really wants to know what’s going on with AI, and see real conspiracy to get riled about, they should watch Frontlines “In the Age of AI.” It can be found on YouTube, and yes, YouTube knows what I watch!