The US government has again identified TikTok as a potential risk to national security. “We are concerned about the collection of data from Americans and the potential risk to national security,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said of efforts to ban TikTok in the United States.
The Foreign Affairs Committee in the US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would allow President Joe Biden to ban TikTok in the US. “TikTok is a modern day Trojan horse of the Chinese Communist Party used to monitor and exploit personal information of Americans,” said committee chairman, Republican Rep. Michael McCaul.
TikTok insists on freedom of speech
However, the proposal is not yet law. It must first be voted on in the plenary of parliament before it can be presented to the senate.TikTok argued that such a law would have a significant negative impact on the free speech of the millions of Americans who use and love TikTok.
Officially banned on government phones
The White House on Monday had banned the social media app of China’s Bytedance group on government cellphones. Similar prohibitions apply to members of the House of Representatives and employees. Several states and the US military have also issued similar regulations. Similar restrictions have also been imposed in Europe, for example by the EU parliament. In Austria, the government is considering this, citing investigations by IT experts from the Ministry of the Interior.
Beijing criticized the ban. State Department spokeswoman Mao Ning said the US should “end unjustified repression of relevant companies and create an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for companies from around the world.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
