U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for a bill today to protect the privacy of American users of the popular social media application, TikTok, according to a press release from the Congressman’s office.
The bill, H.R. 7521, would prohibit a foreign-adversary controlled application from operating through U.S.-based Internet services. It forces ByteDance, the Chinese Communist Party-controlled company that owns and operates TikTok, to sell off the majority of the company’s shares to a company based in a less adversarial country, such as the United States, Canada or France. In addition, the bill would halt data collection on TikTok before the sale and force ByteDance officials to obtain user’s consent before it can continue data collection. More and more Americans are concerned that TikTok is a social media application designed to obtain private data on users without any disclosures on how that data is being used. TikTok is the fourth largest social media platform in the world.
“TikTok has more than one billion monthly users and collects data on every one of them,” said Payne. “This legislation protects Americans from unlawful or unethical use of that data and eliminates Chinese ownership of it. The vast majority of Americans have no idea their data is being collected and manipulated in this way. We have plenty of issues with data collection and privacy in America when it’s used as a marketing tool. But Chinese officials have been using every means at their disposal to spy on Americans for nefarious purposes. This bill would end that surveillance and data collection to allow Americans to enjoy TikTok safely.”
The bill passed the House, with all New Jersey delegates, from both parties, voting “yes.”
The bill, which passed on a bipartisan 352-65 vote, would require the app to part ways with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, within 180 days or face a ban in American app stores. The measure is now expected to move to the US Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. President Joe Biden has said he would be prepared to sign the bill if it passes both chambers.
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. today commented on the overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives to force the sale of TikTok to a company not controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
“This is a very close issue and I do not take lightly any adverse action toward a service that is used by over half of all Americans,” said the Paterson-based congressman. “But the United States has a right to regulate a social media company controlled by the hostile Chinese authoritarian regime that exercises broad power over American discourse and popular culture. Just as we would not accept the Soviet Union to control CNN or other major American news source, we cannot allow the Chinese Community Party to control an outlet with even more daily viewers. There is no question in my mind the Chinese Communist Party can and will use TikTok’s power to influence our elections. I want to note clearly: this legislation would not ‘ban’ TikTok. If it becomes law, TikTok’s parent company would be free to sell the app and make untold billions of dollars. That the Chinese Communist Party is refusing to take the money says a lot about their motives and their intentions.”
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New Jersey delegates have taken a strong stance against the popular social media app TikTok, joining forces with Congressman Donald Payne in their efforts to address concerns about the platform’s privacy and security risks.
TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has faced scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators in the United States over its data collection practices and potential ties to the Chinese government. In response to these concerns, Congressman Payne introduced a resolution calling for a ban on federal employees using TikTok on government-issued devices.
The resolution was supported by several New Jersey delegates, including Representatives Mikie Sherrill, Albio Sires, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. They expressed their concerns about the app’s potential to compromise national security and infringe on users’ privacy.
In a joint statement, the delegates emphasized the need for greater oversight of TikTok and other Chinese-owned technology companies operating in the United States. They called for increased transparency and accountability from these companies to ensure the protection of American citizens’ personal information.
The delegates’ stance against TikTok aligns with broader efforts in Congress to address national security threats posed by Chinese technology companies. Lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential for foreign governments to access sensitive data through these platforms and have called for stricter regulations to protect American interests.
As the debate over TikTok continues to unfold, New Jersey delegates are committed to advocating for measures that safeguard the privacy and security of American citizens. Their strong stance against the app underscores the importance of addressing emerging threats in the digital age and protecting national security in an increasingly interconnected world.
