Two Republican Senators offered Legislation Thursday that would Ban Federal Employees from using the Chinese-owned Video App TikTok on Government-Issued Work Phones, building on similar Prohibitions at the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and Transportation Security Administration.
Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rick Scott (R-FL), who introduced the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, Raised Alarm about the National Security Risks posed by the App’s Ties to China. TikTok's Owner, ByteDance, “is required by law to share user data with Beijing,” Hawley, an outspoken Tech Critic and China Hawk, said. “As many of our federal agencies have already recognized, TikTok is a major security risk to the United States, and it has no place on government devices.”
Scott added that “the use of apps like TikTok by federal employees on government devices is a risk to our networks and a threat to our national security.”
The House last week Passed similar Legislation from Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA, 7th District), who said it is aimed at Protecting Americans from Potential Chinese Surveillance.
TikTok Representatives have Denied Ties to the Chinese Government. But, TikTok is Owned by a Chinese Company that includes Chinese Communist Party Members on its Board, and it is Required by Chinese Law to Share User Data with Beijing. As many Federal Agencies have already Recognized, TikTok is a Major Security Risk to the U.S., and it has No Place on Government Devices.
The Company has also insisted that it does Not Cooperate with the Chinese Government, pointing out that it Stores Data on Americans in the U.S. with a Backup in Singapore.
Scrutiny on TikTok has Intensified in Washington after the Company, formerly known as Musical.ly, had to Pay nearly $6 Million last year to Settle Federal Trade Commission Allegations that it Violated a Children’s Privacy Law.
TikTok has since Beefed Up its Washington Policy Shop and Camp of Advisers, and just this week it Announced it’s Opening a “transparency center” in California to give Experts Insight into how the Company approaches content Moderation, Data Privacy, and Related Issues. TikTok has been Downloaded over 123 Million times in the U.S. The concern is largely tied to a 2017 Chinese Law that Requires Chinese Companies to Comply with Data Requests for State Intelligence Work.
Despite Several Agencies Rolling Out their Own Bans, but Enforcement of those Bans has been Spotty, with many Military Members still Posting on TikTok. Certain Intelligence, like Location of Employees, would also Theoretically be Accessible by China if Government Officials have TikTok on their Personal Devices, which the Bill does Not Cover.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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