It looks like a TikTok ban in the United States could become a reality, with Congress introducing the RESTRICT Act earlier this week. This bill gives the Biden administration the power to ban apps that pose a risk to US national security, and the Biden administration itself has already voiced its support for the bill.
The RESTRICT Act was introduced by Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee. In a statement, Senator Warner stressed the need for broad legislation that will address potential dangers posed by foreign adversaries. He noted how before TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, it was Huawei and ZTEs telecoms networks that posed a threat.
The White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan also called for the bill to be quickly passed and for a ‘comprehensive, risk-based approach’ to be implemented that tackles sources of potentially dangerous technology before it gains a foothold.
The bill has come in response to worrying reports from a whistleblower that TikTok’s access controls on US user data are much weaker than the company has claimed. This individual reportedly shared their claims with Senator Josh Hawley who then wrote a letter to Treasure Secretary Janet Yellen.
TikTok itself responded to the situation with a statement from spokeswoman Brooke Oberwetter. She called for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to finalize the agreement that the two sides worked together on.
As it stands, a TikTok ban in the United States looks increasingly likely, with Democrats, Republicans and the Biden administration all voicing support for the RESTRICT Act. What do you think? Should TikTok be banned in the United States? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
