Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (FL) and Joni Ernst (IA) introduced new legislation Friday that would deny federal funding for these engaged in organization with TikTok, a Chinese-owned social media platform.
The No Funds for Enablers of Adversarial Propaganda Act would prohibit federal funding for men and women and entities that have an agreement, partnership, or advertisement with social media organizations connected with foreign adversaries — which involve China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.
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“Chinese-owned TikTok is a threat, but some entities, like our nation’s airports, are nonetheless ready to accept advertising and marketing dollars from the corporation,” stated Rubio in a statement. “They are either naive, greedy, or every. Regardless, they shouldn’t acquire taxpayer dollars if they are going to accept income from or companion with TikTok. These organizations call for to quit enabling Chinese Communist Celebration propaganda and espionage efforts.”
The bill comes days prior to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is anticipated to testify prior to the Residence Energy and Commerce Committee, specifically exactly where he will go more than the social media app’s information and facts privacy and security practices.
The app’s ties to the Chinese government continue to raise concerns from U.S. government officials who say TikTok could weaponize its collection of user information and facts. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee final week that the app could be created use of to spread misinformation.
“This is a tool that is ultimately inside the manage of the Chinese government, and it, to me, it screams out with national security concerns,” Wray stated.
The Biden administration has threatened to ban TikTok from the United States unless its Chinese owners agree to sell their stakes in the corporation. Earlier in the year, the White Residence mandated all federal agencies to remove TikTok from government-issued devices due to national security concerns. TikTok and the Biden administration have been negotiating for a lot a lot more than two years on information and facts security specifications, but some lawmakers are discovering impatient.
A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill final Tuesday that would give the federal government broader authority to regulate and ban foreign-linked technologies, which was later endorsed by the White Residence.
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In addition to the Senate bill, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and his counterpart on the China choose committee, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), have location forth a bill to ban the app outright in addition to a bill from Residence Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX).
In mid-February, Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Rubio introduced legislation to ban social media platforms like TikTok if they are owned by adversarial foreign regimes.