H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Regulatory Applications of Foreign Adversaries Act, passed by the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday, does not ban TikTok itself outright, said Rep. August Pflueger. (R-Texas) said in an interview. Breitbart News DailyHe explained that the bill actually offers an ultimatum: TikTok must withdraw from China or face expulsion from the United States.
The House passed the bill on bipartisan grounds Wednesday. Fifteen Republicans voted against the bill, along with 50 Democrats.
Pfluger said lawmakers are not immediately calling for an outright ban on TikTok, but are exploring alternatives, such as divesting TikTok from its Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled parent company ByteDance and selling it to a Chinese company. He explained that he was requesting that. friendly people.
“It’s not a ban at all. It’s actually a divestment from a Chinese Communist Party-controlled company called ByteDance. So I hope TikTok as a platform survives,” the lawmaker said. “I hope Americans continue to use it.”
But Pflueger said it’s important to recognize that the company is headquartered in mainland China and that the Chinese Communist Party could “exert influence over its messaging, narrative, and deliverables.” He said that.
Specifically, the bill would require TikTok to “remove from its parent company ByteDance, remove itself from hostile countries, and sell to friendly companies in friendly countries,” Pflueger said.
“And that includes not only the issue of China, the Chinese Communist Party, but also countries like Iran, North Korea, and Russia as adversaries that have clearly shown and demonstrated a willingness to undermine U.S. interests everywhere in the world. included,” he said. , explained that Congress was simply drawing a line in the sand.
“We want them to sell to a company, any company in the United States that can make sure your privacy and data are protected,” he continued.
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It would only be banned in the U.S. if TikTok refuses to sell and withdraws from the Chinese Communist Party, the lawmaker continued.
“Lawmakers admit, ‘There’s a path here.’ So why sell just that? Because it’s in their economic interest to do so, and it’s the company’s future.” Because we know that a lot of people use it. And we’re not saying it shouldn’t be possible, but it’s important that Congress look at the privacy of all Americans. This is the first step when it comes to controlling any industry that expands its reach by warning of the dangers of another adversary,” Pfluger continued.
“And certainly, when you think about other countries being able to shape the narrative about something, think about industries that they don’t like, like fossil fuels in my district, elections across the United States and other countries. “We must protect Americans and protect them from the nefarious actors who seek to undermine them,” she said, adding that it’s up to children whether or not they use TikTok. He also mentioned criticism from parents who believe in him.
(Dolgachev/Getty)
“I have children, and I don’t allow TikTok in my house, and other social media platforms have other restrictions. But because of its ties to the Chinese Communist Party, I don’t allow TikTok in my house. The security threat is so dire that it’s right here in front of us,” he said, describing the app as “a Trojan horse for what we should do.” . You have to be aware of it. ”
“So it goes beyond the parents. It’s not just the parents that we’re worried about. We’re also worried about the service member who just called.” He said, reiterating that this is “not about conservatives using TikTok,” but “this is about the capabilities of a company controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.” It is a political party that shapes a narrative that can be for or against any issue. ”
“But they can dial it up and make the message hotter or colder. We want to continue with TikTok as a platform,” he said. “We want to be managed by someone other than the Chinese Communist Party.”
“This is not a ban,” the Texas lawmaker stressed. “This will force them to exit a very risky company. I hope they make the right decision.”
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