TikTok Scrutiny: CEO Will Tell Lawmakers App Is Safe For Minors And Ban Would ‘Hurt’ U.S. Economy
ForbesNov 25, 2022
The Facts
On Friday, Montana became the first US state to pass a bill banning the video-streaming app TikTok from operating in the state. Montana's House voted 54-43 to pass the bill, which will now head to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte for his consideration.
This comes after Gov. Gianforte already signed legislation banning the app on government devices; if signed into law, the latest bill, called SB 419, would also make it illegal for app stores to offer TikTok on personal devices.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
TikTok, owned by the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, poses a national security risk, which is why it has been under intense scrutiny over concerns it could spy on US citizens and push pro-Beijing propaganda. In addition, TikTok is scarily addictive and encourages minors to indulge in dangerous activities, such as throwing objects at moving automobiles. Montana's bill is a step in the right direction until the PRC proves it won't use TikTok for nefarious purposes.
Pro-China narrative
The US, not China, seeks to use its tech companies, such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon, for political gain. Moreover, Washington's uncalled-for attack on TikTok will take it nowhere. If the country can't defend free speech and democracy on its soil, how could it accuse China of trampling on freedom and human rights? The US is setting an example for despotic authoritarian governments to use national security as an excuse to stifle competition, creativity, and popularity.
Cynical narrative
This is a blatant censorship exercise and an egregious violation of Montanans' free speech rights. Banning the app does little to protect US citizens from surveillance while giving unchecked power to lawmakers to block any tech product or app haphazardly. It also has the potential to criminalize VPN use and subject US citizens' online activities to increased surveillance.
