Congress Wants To Ban TikTok

US lawmakers have proposed a ban on TikTok, the social media app known for its short viral videos, citing concerns about national security. The bipartisan bill is the latest move in the US against the company, which is owned by Chinese technolgy giant ByteDance. Republican Senator Marco Rubio has introduced the legislation that will ban TikTok from operating within the US. 

Rubio’s Senate bill references the ‘‘Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act’’. 

Known in Washington as the ‘‘Anti-Social CCP Act’’ Rubio's bill has bipartisan support in the House, with both Democrat and Republican representatives in support. “The federal government has yet to take a single meaningful action to protect American users from the threat of TikTok... This isn’t about creative videos, this is about an app that is collecting data on tens of millions of American children and adults every day. We know it’s used to manipulate feeds and influence elections." Rubio said in a statement. 

At a time of heightened tension between the US and China over issues including accusations of espionage and mass surveillance, US legislators are unhappy to allow hostile powers to potentially control social media networks that become weaponized.

"There is no more time to waste on meaningless negotiations with a CCP-puppet company. It is time to ban Beijing-controlled TikTok for good.” Rubio said

FBI Director Chris Wray has raised national security concerns about TikTok, warning that control of the popular video sharing app is in the hands of a Chinese government “that doesn’t share our values.” Wray said the FBI was concerned that the Chinese had the ability to control the app’s recommendation algorithm, “which allows them to manipulate content, and if they want to, to use it for influence operations.” He also asserted that China could use the app to collect data on its users that could be used for traditional espionage operations.

TikTok says that the lawmakers' concerns are not rooted in fact. The Chinese government exercises influence over the platform “in no way, shape or form,” TikTok Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in September 14.

TikTok is currently in negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States over these national security concerns. TikTok's video sharing platform, which has more than 100 million users in the US, has called the measure a "politically-motivated ban that will do nothing to advance the national security of the United States".

Sen. Marco Rubio:    DefenseOne:    BBC:    APNews:     Reuters:   NBC

You Might Also Read:

Chinese Internet Companies Required To Disclose Algorithm Data:

 

« A New US National Cyber Strategy
Under A Watchful Eye - Unified Observability »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

WEBINAR: 2024 and Beyond: Top Six Cloud Security Trends

WEBINAR: 2024 and Beyond: Top Six Cloud Security Trends

April 4, 2024 | 11:00 AM PT: Join this webinar to find out about six emerging trends dominating the cloud cybersecurity landscape.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

Oxygen Forensics

Oxygen Forensics

Oxygen Forensics offer the most advanced forensic data examination tools for mobile devices and cloud services.

NextLabs

NextLabs

NextLabs provides data-centric security software to protect business-critical data and applications.

Telefonica Tech

Telefonica Tech

Telefónica Cyber Security Tech is focused on the prevention, detection and appropriate response to security incidents aimed at protecting your digital services.

Redcentric

Redcentric

Redcentric is a leading UK IT managed services provider. We deliver managed IT, cloud computing, data backup, information security services and managed networks.

UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal

UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal

The UNIDIR Cyber Policy Portal is an online reference tool that maps the cybersecurity and cybersecurity-related policy landscape.

Digital Magics

Digital Magics

Digital Magics is an incubator for innovative startups which offer content and services with high technological value. Areas of focus include IoT, Enterprise Software, AI, Industry 4.0 and Blockchain.

Genius Guard

Genius Guard

Genius Guard specializes in DDoS Protection, DDoS Protected Webhosting, HYIP Hosting, Bitcoin Hosting, Cryptocurrency Hosting.

Stefanini Group

Stefanini Group

Stefanini is a global IT services company providing a broad range of solutions for digital transformation including automation, cloud, IoT and cybersecurity.

Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI)

Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI)

At the Cyber Readiness Institute, our mission is simple: empower small and medium-sized enterprises with free tools and resources to help them become more secure and resilient.

CybersCool Defcon

CybersCool Defcon

CybersCool is committed to educate and train, re-skill and up-skill the current workforce of various industries and businesses in the knowledge and know-how of cybersecurity.

Third Point Ventures

Third Point Ventures

Third Point brings deep technical expertise, a strong network of relationships, and decades of investing experience to add value to our partners throughout their journey from idea to IPO and beyond.

Guardz

Guardz

Guardz helps small and growing businesses to go from zero or low cyber protection to having comprehensive security – in the quickest and most straightforward way.

Eviden

Eviden

Eviden is an Atos business that brings together its digital, big data and security business lines. It will be a global leader in data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation.

Xeol

Xeol

Software free of vulnerabilities, built and distributed by trusted entities. Our mission is to help customers secure their software from code to deploy.

InnovateHer

InnovateHer

At InnovateHer, our vision is to make the tech sector more equitable, by increasing diversity across the spectrum and creating more inclusive workplaces.

Acumen

Acumen

Acumen's cyber security engineers protect your critical systems, in critical moments. We are here when you need us most.