Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) responded to the threat of a TikTok ban in a novel way: by posting her first video on the social media site. In his introduction, Ocasio-Cortez said, “This is not only my first TikTok, but it’s a TikTok on TikTok. Do I think TikTok should be banned? No.”
The famous video-sharing software will be banned, according to the New York Democrat, in an “unprecedented” move.
“I think it’s crucial to say how unusual that would be. In her video, she claimed that the United States had never before banned a social media company from existing or operating in its limits.And there are more than 150 million people using this app.
@aocinthehouse Some thoughts on TikTok…
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His statement follows a Thursday hearing in which lawmakers from both sides questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on how his company intends to address recent security concerns voiced over the app. social media.
During Chew’s testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, criticisms of the app and ByteDance, its China-based owner, were particularly cross-partisan and included concerns about national security threats, data privacy, dissemination of false information and the safety of children.
“They claim we should ban this app because of the excessive amount of data being collected. But that really doesn’t get to the root of the problem,” Ocasio-Cortez said in her video.
The outspoken Democrat claimed that taking TikTok off the market was not the answer, citing other prominent social media companies that also collect “treasuries of deeply personal data” without users’ consent or many regulations.
She asserted, later adding, “So for me, the solution here is not to ban an individual company – it’s to actually protect Americans from this type of blatant data collection that companies can do without your ability. meaningful to say no.” The United States is one of the only developed countries in the world that does not have significant data protection or privacy laws.
She added, saying it hadn’t happened yet, “Normally when the United States comes up with a really substantial action, which has something to do with a significant national security risk, one of the first things that occurs is that Congress receives a confidential record.” So why are we suggesting the banning of such an important topic without being included in it in any way? I just don’t feel good about it.
She claimed the general public has a right to know what information can potentially be leaked by the platform if the decision to ban TikTok is so critical to national security. Ocasio-Cortez once again emphasized the need to investigate all platforms.
She remarked, “I think a lot of it is about putting the cart before the horse. We are a government by the people and for the people.”
Ocasio-Cortez continued, “Our primary concern should be protecting your right to exist without social media companies selling every piece of data about you.”
Last week, TikTok released updated community guidelines that the company says would improve content control on the site. Updating company policies on how it evaluates content produced or manipulated by artificial intelligence technology and offering more information about the work it does to protect integrity civic and electoral are two of the most important improvements.