Trump claims that banning TikTok would strengthen Meta and label Facebook as the “enemy of the people
OAN’s Abril Elfi
2:40 PM – Monday, March 11, 2024
Former President Donald Trump expressed his belief that banning TikTok, despite being a national security threat, could inadvertently empower Meta (Facebook).
On Monday, the 45th president acknowledged that a TikTok ban would bring more online users to Meta, which he referred to as the “enemy of the people” due to its excessive control over free speech and censorship.
“I do believe that,” Trump said. “I do believe it and we very much have to go into privacy and make sure that we are protecting the American people’s privacy and data rights,” the presumptive Republican nominee added. “But, you know, we also have that problem with other — you have that problem with Facebook and lots of other companies too.”
Trump continued, stating that banning TikTok would be a “tough decision to make,” and that the absence of the popular social media app could potentially boost the popularity of Mark Zuckerberg’s website.
“Frankly there are a lot of people on TikTok that love it. There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it,” he said. ”There are a lot of users, that is, you know a lot of good, and there’s a lot of bad with TikTok, but the thing I don’t like, is without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger—and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people, along with a lot of the media.”
“If you ban TikTok, Facebook and others, but mostly Facebook, [it] will be a big beneficiary,” he added, arguing Facebook has been “very bad for the country” especially in terms of elections.
Trump spoke as the House is preparing to take up the legislation this week that could potentially ban companies from offering TikTok web hosting in the U.S. or those who make it available on their app stores, unless parent company ByteDance divests itself within 180 days.
In response to ongoing concerns regarding how TikTok gathers user data from United States citizens, President Biden has previously stated that he would sign a bill banning the app if it reached his desk and worries persisted.
The 45th president similarly asserted on Monday that he could have banned TikTok during his first term, but that he ultimately left it up to Congress.
“I could have banned TikTok. I had it banned just about, I could’ve gotten it done. But, you know, I said ‘I’ll leave it up to you, I didn’t push them too hard, because let them do their own research and development, and they decided not to do it,” Trump said.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
A new documentary, The Relentless Patriot, about artist Scott Labaido is set to premier at Mar-a-lago on March 13th.
It might be a rough day for some, but a celebration for many!
One medical expert says national panic could set in after the 2024 election concludes. Here’s One America’s Nathaniel Mannor.
with Rep. Steve Toth
Reddit is aiming for a valuation of up to $6.4 billion in its U.S. initial public offering.
Elon Musk said on Monday his artificial intelligence startup xAI would open-source its ChatGPT challenger “Grok” this week.
UnitedHealth Group is likely to need several months to make a full recovery from one of the most disruptive hacks against America’s healthcare infrastructure.
Google has been touting the myriad innovations in the first building wholly designed and built by the web giant.
rnrn
What actions are being discussed by the House to address the concerns about TikTok’s collection and handling of user data
Ut,”Trump said. “But I said, let Congress do it because I think it’s important that we get the right and proper legislation to ban TikTok”
Despite acknowledging the national security concerns associated with TikTok, Trump expressed his concerns over the potential power increase for Facebook if the app were to be banned. He emphasized the need for privacy and data protection for the American people, but also highlighted the issue of excessive control and censorship exercised by Facebook and other companies.
Trump’s remarks align with his previous criticisms of Facebook, which he has referred to as “an enemy of the people.” He expressed his belief that without TikTok, Facebook would have the opportunity to expand its user base, which he considers detrimental to the country, particularly in terms of elections.
The House is currently discussing legislation that could ban companies from hosting TikTok on their platforms or making it available on their app stores unless TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, divests itself within a specific timeframe. This comes in response to concerns about how TikTok collects and handles user data, with President Biden indicating he would sign a bill banning the app if such concerns persisted.
Trump also mentioned that he had the option to ban TikTok during his presidency, but he decided to leave the decision to Congress to ensure the implementation of the appropriate legislation.
The debate surrounding TikTok’s fate continues to raise questions about national security, privacy, and the power dynamics among social media platforms. As discussions unfold, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken and how this will impact the digital landscape.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
