No TikTok on Government Devices Act would ban the popular Chinese-owned social media app on all government electronics GovTrack.us Follow Mar 28 · 3 min read

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)

Should the Beijing-headquartered video app be deemed a national security threat?

Context

The video-sharing app TikTok has become the hot new app particularly among younger audiences. It was the fourth-most downloaded app of 2019, besting such heavyweights as Netflix, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Spotify. 69% of its audience are from Generation Z.

Launched in China in 2012 and expanding to non-Chinese markets in 2017, the app is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. Reports have revealed TikTok censored videos that were deemed offensive to China’s Communist Party, and reportedly may have allowed the Chinese government to obtain data from U.S. users. (Although TikTok has denied the practice.)

As a result, several U.S. government agencies or departments in recent months have banned the app for its employees on government devices, including the Army, the State Department, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

What the bill does

The No TikTok on Government Devices Act would ban all federal employees from using TikTok on any government device.

It was introduced in the Senate on March 12 as bill number S. 3455, by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). Unlike most congressional legislation, this one does not appear to have an official title.

What supporters say

Supporters argue the bill is a necessary national security measure, to protect millions of Americans against a foreign surveillance state.

“TikTok is owned by a Chinese company that includes Chinese Communist Party members on its board, and it is required by law to share user data with Beijing,” Sen. Hawley said in a press release.

“As many of our federal agencies have already recognized, TikTok is a major security risk to the United States,” Sen. Hawley continued, “and it has no place on government devices.”

What opponents say

Opponents counter that the concerns over TikTok are much ado about nothing, and that the company is committed to user privacy and safety.

“Our Trust & Safety hub in the San Francisco Bay Area has also grown and now sits alongside similar hubs in Dublin and Singapore,” TikTok U.S. General Manager Vanessa Pappas wrote in a blog post. “Our global safety teams comprise experienced industry professionals whose backgrounds span product, policy, compliance, child safety, law, privacy, and NGOs.”

“These dedicated hubs are focused on strengthening policies, technologies, and moderation strategies and ensuring that they complement both local culture and context,” Pappas continued. “Our Trust & Safety leaders collaborate closely with regional regulators, policymakers, government, and law enforcement agencies in our pursuit to promote the highest possible standard of user safety.”

Odds of passage

The bill has attracted two Senate cosponsors, both Republicans: Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rick Scott (R-FL). It awaits a potential vote in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

This article was written by GovTrack Insider staff writer Jesse Rifkin.

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