Although the use of TikTok in the United States has already been banned on the devices of government employees, local authorities want to go much further and completely ban the use of the country’s most popular social network. Accordingly ReutersThe White House has backed a bill introduced by a group of senators that would give authorities the power to ban both TikTok and other foreign technologies if they pose a threat to U.S. national security.
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Such approval would fuel a significant number of lawmakers’ efforts to ban the popular app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance and used by more than 100 million Americans. Specifically, the bill would give the Commerce Department the power to impose certain restrictions on internet technology use, including the power to ban TikTok. According to the senators, we are also talking about other foreign information technologies that may threaten US national security. The Ministry must identify and eliminate threats.
TikTok has already criticized the new measures, saying that the ban on the social network is in fact a ban on the export of American culture and values, with more than a billion users worldwide using the application. The service is known to have been widely criticized lately in relation to the possible use of user data that might end up in the hands of the Chinese authorities.
The senators who introduced the bill include both Democrats and Republicans. According to US National Security Advisor Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, the bill will strengthen the ability to address both individual and systemic risks from a range of countries affecting specific technology sectors. He was supported by other White House officials who appear impatient for the bill to be approved and signed by the President.
It is known that during the presidency of Donald Trump (Donald Trump) a bill similar to the one being pushed forward today was proposed, but in 2020 the legislative initiative was blocked by the courts. It is known that in the same year, the government’s Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS), an influential structure in the protection of US national security, unanimously recommended ByteDance’s sale of TikTok amid fears that user data would be leaked into the company could reach Chinese government agencies.
TikTok and CFIUS have been in talks for more than two years to meet data security requirements. TikTok said it spent more than $1.5 billion on strict data security and denies spying allegations. According to social network officials, the best way to allay any concerns about TikTok would be for the CFIUS to accept the deal the Chinese side has been jointly developing for about two years. TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew is known to be scheduled to address Congress on March 23.
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