GOP divided over Trump’s reversal on TikTok ban
Republican Lawmakers Divided on TikTok Ban
Republican lawmakers suddenly have split opinions on the House bill that would prevent app stores from hosting the popular short-form video platform TikTok.
After Former President Donald Trump, who led the original chorus of those wanting to ban the app, sounded off on the bill passed unanimously out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and proclaimed his disapproval, various Congress members issued their own responses to his concern.
Rand Paul Questions the Ban
“If Congress bans TikTok, they will be acting just like the Chinese communists who have also banned TikTok . . . Why not just defend the first amendment?” Paul wrote on X. ”Trump helped solve Tik Tok data problem through Project Texas, which would store and secure all US users data in U.S. So why is the House GOP siding with Biden and still trying to ban Tik Tok?”
Trump helped solve Tik Tok data problem through Project Texas, which would store and secure all US users data in U.S.
So why is the House GOP siding with Biden and still trying to ban Tik Tok?
Not All Republicans Agree
However, not all Republicans agree with Trump’s opposing the ban. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) reposted FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr’s post on X, pointing out the duplicitous nature of TikTok’s data storage. TikTok previously acknowledged in a letter to the U.S. Senate that it did store some information from its paid creators in China despite Trump’s order.
“But of course, TikTok had not changed its ways. As the WSJ found, TikTok just kept on sharing sensitive U.S. data with China,” Carr wrote. “Because TikTok is different than other social media companies. It is different because, as the evidence conclusively establishes, it is beholden to the CCP. Should the U.S. revise its privacy laws across the board? No objection from me. And acting on TikTok now provides an opportunity to build momentum towards that.”
As Congress moves to require TikTok to divest its ties to the CCP, good questions have been raised about whether privacy laws could address TikTok’s threat.
They can’t. Privacy or data flow laws are not the same as national security laws. They solve different problems.
Mike Pence Supports the Ban
Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence also pointed out Trump’s change of opinion since enacting the order. In Pence’s post on X, he made reference to Trump’s campaign promise of being “tough on China.”
“The era of appeasing the Chinese Communist Party is over. Politicians claiming to be ‘tough on China’ while simultaneously supporting TikTok spewing CCP-sanctioned propaganda across the world are wrong,” Pence wrote. “China is poisoning the minds of American children. Enough is enough.”
Concerns About TikTok Manipulation
“The recent push by TikTok, a Chinese-owned app, to manipulate a response from its users only solidifies our concerns and the unanimous support for legislation to address these issues,” Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) wrote on X. Curtis is running for Utah’s open senate seat this November.
Bill Aims to Protect Americans
Committee members issued statements to explain the purpose of the bill in a press conference as not only about China, but about all apps owned by China, Russia, or Iran.
“A lot of people are going to say that this is anti-technology, or… that this is somehow a specifically anti-TikTok piece of legislation — nothing could be further from the truth,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) said at the press conference. “This is about making sure our foreign adversaries cannot be targeting Americans.”
“We wanted to make it clear we do not want to ban TikTok, we just want its ties to the CCP severed permanently and irrevocably,” Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said in a statement. “As explained above, if TikTok is sold by ByteDance, it is free to operate in the United States. But clearly, the CCP does not want to give up their ability to spy and manipulate.”
“I believe saying this bill would violate the First Amendment is incorrect,” Griffith went on. “The Supreme Court makes a distinction between laws based on the content of speech vs. conduct. Laws based on conduct, which threatens national security, particularly when likely orchestrated by a foreign power, are not ‘per se’ violations of the First Amendment.”
President Joe Biden has already promised his support of the bill should it reach his desk. The House and the Senate have yet to vote on the legislation.
How does the ban on TikTok raise issues of free speech and the rights of American citizens?
Y supporting TikTok’s continued presence in app stores are just perpetuating a dangerous double standard,” Pence wrote. ”We must prioritize the security and privacy of American citizens over the profits of a foreign-owned company.”
Pence’s stance aligns with the original concerns raised by Trump and others who believed that TikTok posed a threat to national security due to its ties to China and the potential for the Chinese Communist Party to access and exploit user data.
The Debate Continues
With the divided opinions among Republican lawmakers, the debate surrounding the ban of TikTok continues to evolve. While some argue for the protection of privacy and national security, others see it as an attack on free speech and an infringement on the rights of American citizens.
Despite the unanimous passing of the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, its fate in the broader Congress remains uncertain. As the issue gains attention and support from both sides of the political spectrum, it is likely that further discussions and deliberations will be necessary before any final decision is made.
Conclusion
The Republican lawmakers’ division on the TikTok ban reflects the complexities of addressing the concerns raised by the app’s association with China. While some see it as a threat to national security and believe in the need to protect American citizens’ privacy, others argue for the preservation of free speech and personal choice. As the debate continues, it becomes crucial for lawmakers to consider the potential consequences and implications of their decisions, ensuring that the interests of the nation and its citizens are prioritized and protected.
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