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 folks and entities that have an agreement, partnership, or advertisement with social media providers linked with foreign adversaries — which include things like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.
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“Chinese-owned TikTok is a threat, but some entities, such as our nation’s airports, are nevertheless prepared to accept marketing dollars from the firm,” mentioned Rubio in a statement. “They are either naive, greedy, or each. Regardless, they shouldn’t obtain taxpayer dollars if they are going to accept income from or companion with TikTok. These providers require to cease enabling Chinese Communist Celebration propaganda and espionage efforts.”
The bill comes days ahead of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is anticipated to testify ahead of the Residence Power and Commerce Committee, exactly where he will talk about the social media app’s information privacy and safety practices.
The app’s ties to the Chinese government continue to raise issues from U.S. government officials who say TikTok could weaponize its collection of user information. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee final week that the app could be applied to spread misinformation.
“This is a tool that is eventually inside the handle of the Chinese government, and it, to me, it screams out with national safety issues,” Wray mentioned.
The Biden administration has threatened to ban TikTok from the United States unless its Chinese owners agree to sell their stakes in the firm. Earlier in the year, the White Residence mandated all federal agencies to get rid of TikTok from government-issued devices due to national safety issues. TikTok and the Biden administration have been negotiating for a lot more than two years on information safety specifications, but some lawmakers are acquiring 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 place 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.