TikTok Scrutiny: CEO Will Tell Lawmakers App Is Safe For Minors And Ban Would ‘Hurt’ U.S. Economy
ForbesAPR 2023
TikTok, owned by the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, poses a national security risk, which is why it has been under intense scrutiny over concerns it could spy on US citizens and push pro-Beijing propaganda. In addition, TikTok is scarily addictive and encourages minors to indulge in dangerous activities, such as throwing objects at moving automobiles. Montana's bill is a step in the right direction until the PRC proves it won't use TikTok for nefarious purposes.
The US, not China, seeks to use its tech companies, such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon, for political gain. Moreover, Washington's uncalled-for attack on TikTok will take it nowhere. If the country can't defend free speech and democracy on its soil, how could it accuse China of trampling on freedom and human rights? The US is setting an example for despotic authoritarian governments to use national security as an excuse to stifle competition, creativity, and popularity.
This is a blatant censorship exercise and an egregious violation of Montanans' free speech rights. Banning the app does little to protect US citizens from surveillance while giving unchecked power to lawmakers to block any tech product or app haphazardly. It also has the potential to criminalize VPN use and subject US citizens' online activities to increased surveillance.