On the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.
On the other are some 150 million TikTok users in the U.S. who just want to be able to keep making and watching short, fun videos offering makeup tutorials and cooking lessons, among other things.
Nevertheless, lawmakers, the FBI and officials at other agencies continue to raise alarms that Chinese law compels Chinese companies like TikTok's parent company ByteDance to fork over data to the government for whatever purposes it deems to involve national security. There's also concern Beijing might try to push pro-China narratives or misinformation through the platform.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., whose district is in the heart of Silicon Valley, said he is mindful of the value that platforms like TikTok provide to young people as an outlet for creative expression and building community. "But there's absolutely no reason that an American technology company can't do that," said Khanna, the top Democrat on the cyber subcommittee on House Armed Service. "America has the most innovative technology companies in the world.
TikTok itself has been trying to leverage its popularity. On Wednesday, it sent dozens of influencers to Congress to lobby against a ban. It has also ramped up a broader public relations campaign, plastering ads all over Washington that tout its promises of securing users' data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential banThe disconnect illustrates the uphill battle lawmakers face in trying to convince the public that China could use TikTok as a weapon against the American people. But many users on the platform are more concerned about the possibility of the government taking away their favorite app.
Read more »
Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential banU.S. lawmakers discussing TikTok have warned about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance. But they face an uphill battle in convincing the public that China could use TikTok as a weapon, as many worry the government will take the app away.
Read more »
Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential banOn the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.
Read more »
Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential banOn the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.
Read more »
Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential banOn the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.
Read more »
Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential banOn the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.
Read more »