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In his typically vague but sinister form, Donald Trump said his administration is “analyzing” whether it could make the decision to shut down TikTok in the United States.
The social media app is owned by a Chinese company, although it is allegedly run by an American CEO. US officials have expressed concern about the use of private and personal data by the Chinese government through Americans’ cell phones through such smartphone applications.
The president called the actions of that and other large technology companies “very bad,” but did not elaborate. In the past, he accused them of censuring conservatives.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently issued a warning to Americans who use TikTok.
“Regarding Chinese applications on people’s cell phones, I can assure you that the United States will also have this, Laura,” he said. “I don’t want to go out in front of the president [Donald Trump], but it is something that we are seeing “.
Some Republican lawmakers have also been outspoken about TikTok.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley has pushed through a bill that would ban federal employees from using the app on their government phones.
Instead of spamming your stream of consciousness (sorry), I wrote you this graph:
Congress is also wary of Chinese-owned social media enforcement.
An amendment by Republican Congressman Ken Buck that prohibits federal employees from downloading the application on their government phones became the Democrat-controlled House version of the annual defense spending bill that was passed earlier this month. .
A Senate Homeland Security subcommittee passed a twin bill in that chamber last week.
“TikTok is a huge security risk for the United States, and it has no place in government devices,” Hawley said in March when he introduced his bill.
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