Well, it happened. The House of Representatives voted 352 to 65 to pass a bill that forces ByteDance (the CCP-controlled parent company of social media hemorrhoid, TikTok) to either sell the company or risk being banned in the United States.
The legislation will now head to the Senate, so there's no guarantee the bill will progress any further, but regardless, it's important to point out the obvious: This is a massive step in the right direction because it acknowledges that China is a dangerous enemy using TikTok as a propaganda tool to spy on and influence Americans.
Most of the loudest voices out there in opposition to this legislation either have a massive following on TikTok and/or are refusing to acknowledge this reality.
First off, it's widely acknowledged that TikTok is a national-security threat. Dozens of states have banned the use of TikTok on government devices and networks, along with the European Union and Canada.
And why? Because TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese tech giant headquartered in Beijing, which (like all Chinese-based corporations) are under full CCP control. So while TikTok claims that it's totally separate from the Chinese government, it's utter nonsense.
And given that TikTok has admitted that some staff in China can access the data of international users, if they can access your data, they will.
This same CCP-controlled TikTok is collecting biometric data, including face-prints and voiceprints, and can't even explain why. They can also bypass Apple and Google's security systems, giving ByteDance full access to your data: a horrendous idea ... unless you're Eric Swalwell (who, of course, opposed this legislation).
And yes, all tech companies have access to your data, but are we seriously pretending that there is no moral difference between companies based in the U.S. and China?!
Then there's the free speech argument which is, frankly, silly. The CCP does not have a First Amendment right to spy on or indoctrinate Americans. It's like arguing that Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union had a First Amendment right to airdrop propaganda leaflets on American schools.
Look, I get it. A lot of people out there are willing to look the other way when it comes to TikTok because of personal benefits, apathy towards China, or (worst of the worst) support for China.
None of these are valid reasons to give Xi Jinping and his murderous dictatorship full reign over your data and your life.
Sell TikTok, or ban TikTok.
Follow Ian on X (@ighaworth) or Substack.
