US Advances Law to Ban TikTok on Government Devices – New Cold War Heating Up
Upon passage in the House and Senate committee, the ban could soon become law in the United States.
A committee of the United States Senate voted on Wednesday, July 22, in favor of prohibiting federal employees from using the TikTok social network application on government-owned devices.
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The bill presented by Senator Josh Hawley, titled “Government Devices Without TikTok Act” was unanimously approved by the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. It will now go to the Senate for a vote.
TikTok’s Chinese ownership and popularity with American teens has increased scrutiny by regulators and lawmakers, who fear that users’ personal information will fall into the hands of government officials in Beijing.
Under a Chinese law introduced in 2017, companies are required to support and cooperate in the country’s national intelligence network. But people in the US tend to forget the Snowden scandal unveiling the sophisticated mechanisms used by the US government to spy on not only its own citizens but also on foreign citizens.
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Earlier this week, the House of Representatives voted to ban federal employees from downloading the app on government-owned devices, as part of a $ 741 billion defense policy bill. Lawmakers voted 336-71 in favor of the proposal, presented by Congressman Ken Buck.
Upon passage in the House and Senate committee, the ban could soon become law in the United States.
TikTok spokeswoman Jamie Favazza said the top priority for the company’s growing team in the United States is promoting an app experience that protects users’ privacy.
“Millions of American families use TikTok for entertainment and creative expression, and we recognize that federal government devices don’t do that,” she said.
Featured image: File photo.
(Panorama)
Translation: OT/JRE/EF
