Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) responded to the threat of a TikTok ban in a novel way: by publishing her debut video on the social media site. In her introduction, Ocasio-Cortez stated, "This is not only my first TikTok, but it is a TikTok about TikTok. Do I think TikTok should be banned? No.”
The well-known video-sharing software will be banned, according to the New York Democrat, in a "unprecedented" step.
"I believe it's crucial to talk about how unusual a move this would be. In her video, she claimed that the United States had never before prohibited a social media firm from existing or operating within its boundaries. And there are over 150 million People who use this app.
Her statement follows a Thursday hearing in which MPs from both parties questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about how his business intends to solve recent security concerns expressed about the social media app.
During Chew's testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, criticisms of the app and ByteDance, its Chinese-based owner, were particularly cross-partisan and included worries about threats to national security, data privacy, the dissemination of misinformation, and the safety of children.
"They claim that we should outlaw this app due to the excessive quantity of data collecting. But that really doesn't get at the root of the problem," Ocasio-Cortez stated in her video.
The outspoken Democrat asserted that removing TikTok from the market wasn't the answer, citing other prominent social media firms that also gather "troves of profoundly personal data" without users' consent or much regulation.
She asserted, later adding, "So to me, the solution here is not to ban an individual company — but to actually protect Americans from this kind of egregious data harvesting that companies can do without your significant ability to say no." The United States is one of the only developed countries in the world without any significant data or privacy protection laws on the books.
She added, saying that it hadn't happened yet, "Normally when the United States is proposing a really substantial action, that has something to do with signifiant risk to national security, one of the first things that happens is that Congress receives a confidential briefing." Thus, why are we suggesting a ban on such a significant topic without being included in any way? I simply don't feel right about it.
She asserted that the general public had a right to know what information can potentially be released by the platform if the decision to outlaw TikTok was that crucial to national security. Ocasio-Cortez emphasized once more the need to investigate all platforms.
She remarked, "I think a lot of this is putting the cart before the horse. We are a government by the people and for the people."
Ocasio-Cortez continued, "Our top concern should be safeguarding your right to exist without social media firms selling every single piece of data about you."
Last week, TikTok released updated community guidelines that, according to the business, would improve content control on the site. Updating the company's policies on how it assesses content produced or manipulated by artificial intelligence technology and offering more information about the work it does to safeguard civic and electoral integrity are two of the most significant improvements.
The well-known video-sharing software will be banned, according to the New York Democrat, in a "unprecedented" step.
"I believe it's crucial to talk about how unusual a move this would be. In her video, she claimed that the United States had never before prohibited a social media firm from existing or operating within its boundaries. And there are over 150 million People who use this app.
@aocinthehouse Some thoughts on TikTok…
♬ original sound - aocinthehouse
Her statement follows a Thursday hearing in which MPs from both parties questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about how his business intends to solve recent security concerns expressed about the social media app.
During Chew's testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, criticisms of the app and ByteDance, its Chinese-based owner, were particularly cross-partisan and included worries about threats to national security, data privacy, the dissemination of misinformation, and the safety of children.
"They claim that we should outlaw this app due to the excessive quantity of data collecting. But that really doesn't get at the root of the problem," Ocasio-Cortez stated in her video.
The outspoken Democrat asserted that removing TikTok from the market wasn't the answer, citing other prominent social media firms that also gather "troves of profoundly personal data" without users' consent or much regulation.
She asserted, later adding, "So to me, the solution here is not to ban an individual company — but to actually protect Americans from this kind of egregious data harvesting that companies can do without your significant ability to say no." The United States is one of the only developed countries in the world without any significant data or privacy protection laws on the books.
She added, saying that it hadn't happened yet, "Normally when the United States is proposing a really substantial action, that has something to do with signifiant risk to national security, one of the first things that happens is that Congress receives a confidential briefing." Thus, why are we suggesting a ban on such a significant topic without being included in any way? I simply don't feel right about it.
She asserted that the general public had a right to know what information can potentially be released by the platform if the decision to outlaw TikTok was that crucial to national security. Ocasio-Cortez emphasized once more the need to investigate all platforms.
She remarked, "I think a lot of this is putting the cart before the horse. We are a government by the people and for the people."
Ocasio-Cortez continued, "Our top concern should be safeguarding your right to exist without social media firms selling every single piece of data about you."
Last week, TikTok released updated community guidelines that, according to the business, would improve content control on the site. Updating the company's policies on how it assesses content produced or manipulated by artificial intelligence technology and offering more information about the work it does to safeguard civic and electoral integrity are two of the most significant improvements.
