Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri strongly criticized the Biden-Harris campaign for joining TikTok during the Super Bowl. This move sparked controversy, especially considering that the administration signed a law banning the use of this app on most federal devices in 2022.
In response to the campaign’s announcement of joining TikTok, Hawley wrote on X: “The Biden campaign boasts about using a Chinese spying app, despite Biden signing a law banning its use on all federal devices.”
Many Republicans, including Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas, support a total ban on TikTok in the United States. They are concerned that the app steals Americans’ data and poses a threat to national security. In 2017, the Chinese government enacted regulations requiring companies to provide any personal data relevant to national security to the government.
In an interview, Hawley said, “TikTok tracks everything you do on your phone. It monitors your location, transmitted text messages, written emails, and all this information is accessible to the Chinese Communist Party.”
The popularity of TikTok among young voters contributed to the Biden campaign’s decision to have a presidential account on this platform. The campaign also has a presence on other social media platforms such as X, Instagram, Threads Meta, and former President Trump’s Truth Social.
Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have warned about the possibility of user data on TikTok being shared with the Chinese Communist Party by ByteDance, the company behind the app. User data may include browsing history, location information, and biometric data such as fingerprints, facial features, iris patterns, or unique voice characteristics.
Although TikTok is still under investigation by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the Biden-Harris campaign states that it will regularly publish content on all platforms, including TikTok. A campaign spokesperson said, “We have taken advanced security measures regarding our devices and have developed a sophisticated security protocol to ensure their protection. The campaign’s presence is independent and unrelated to the ongoing review by the Committee on Foreign Investment.” The campaign will continue to reach voters where they are, developing content that resonates with key voter groups and creating diverse and broad coalitions of support for President Biden.
Jamie Joseph is a political writer and leads the digital editorship of Fox News, which includes the Senate.
FAQ Section:
1. Why did Senator Josh Hawley criticize the Biden-Harris campaign for joining TikTok?
Senator Hawley criticized the Biden-Harris campaign for joining TikTok because the app was banned on most federal devices in 2022 due to concerns about its use for espionage purposes by the Chinese government.
2. Does the Republican Party support a ban on TikTok in the US?
Yes, many Republicans, including Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas, support a total ban on TikTok in the US, fearing that the app poses a threat to national security and steals Americans’ data.
3. Why does TikTok raise privacy data concerns?
TikTok raises privacy data concerns because the Chinese government has enacted regulations that require companies to provide any personal data relevant to national security. There is a concern that TikTok users may share information such as browsing history, geolocation data, and biometric data.
4. What are the consequences for TikTok users?
TikTok users are at risk of their data being shared with ByteDance, a company associated with the Chinese Communist Party. This may include browsing history, geolocation data, and biometric data.
5. Why does the Biden-Harris campaign choose to be present on TikTok despite these concerns?
The Biden-Harris campaign chooses to be present on TikTok due to the platform’s popularity among young voters. Creating content on TikTok allows the campaign to reach key voter groups and build diverse coalitions of support for President Biden.
6. How does the Biden-Harris campaign ensure the security of their devices?
A campaign spokesperson assures that the Biden-Harris campaign has implemented advanced security measures for their devices and has developed a sophisticated security protocol to protect the data. The campaign’s presence on TikTok is independent and unrelated to the ongoing review by the Committee on Foreign Investment.
Key Definitions:
– TikTok: A popular social media app that allows users to create and share short music videos.
– Super Bowl: The annual championship game of American football, considered one of the biggest sporting events in the US.
– National Security: The state of security for a country and its citizens, encompassing protection from political, economic, military, and other threats.
Suggested Related Links:
– [White House](https://whitehouse.gov/)
– [FBI](https://www.fbi.gov/)
– [Federal Communications Commission](https://www.fcc.gov/)
– [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics)
The source of the article is from the blog yanoticias.es