Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (FL) and Joni Ernst (IA) launched new laws Friday that might deny federal funding for these engaged in enterprise with TikTok, a Chinese language-owned social media platform.
The No Funds for Enablers of Adversarial Propaganda Act would prohibit federal funding for individuals and entities which have an settlement, partnership, or commercial with social media corporations related to overseas adversaries — which embrace China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.
BIDEN’S TIKTOK TICKING TIME BOMB
“Chinese language-owned TikTok is a risk, however some entities, together with our nation’s airports, are nonetheless prepared to simply accept promoting {dollars} from the corporate,” stated Rubio in a press release. “They’re both naive, grasping, or each. Regardless, they shouldn’t obtain taxpayer {dollars} if they will settle for cash from or companion with TikTok. These corporations have to cease enabling Chinese language Communist Celebration propaganda and espionage efforts.”
The invoice comes days earlier than TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is predicted to testify earlier than the Home Power and Commerce Committee, the place he’ll talk about the social media app’s knowledge privateness and safety practices.
The app’s ties to the Chinese language authorities proceed to boost issues from U.S. authorities officers who say TikTok might weaponize its assortment of person knowledge. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee final week that the app could possibly be used to unfold misinformation.
“It is a instrument that’s in the end throughout the management of the Chinese language authorities, and it, to me, it screams out with nationwide safety issues,” Wray stated.
The Biden administration has threatened to ban TikTok from the USA until its Chinese language house owners comply with promote their stakes within the firm. Earlier within the 12 months, the White Home mandated all federal companies to take away TikTok from government-issued units as a consequence of nationwide safety issues. TikTok and the Biden administration have been negotiating for greater than two years on knowledge safety necessities, however some lawmakers are getting impatient.
A bipartisan group of senators launched a invoice final Tuesday that might give the federal authorities broader authority to control and ban foreign-linked know-how, which was later endorsed by the White Home.
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Along with the Senate invoice, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and his counterpart on the China choose committee, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), have put forth a invoice to ban the app outright along with a invoice from Home International Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX).
In mid-February, Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Rubio launched laws to ban social media platforms like TikTok if they’re owned by adversarial overseas regimes.