Congressional Hearing on TikTok: Lawmaker Explains Data Privacy Concerns and Legislative Paths Forward

Washington D.C. - Representative Jeff Jackson recently offered insights into the congressional hearing concerning TikTok, highlighting critical issues surrounding data privacy and potential foreign government influence. Jackson noted that while some questions during the hearing were pertinent, many concerns, such as declining mental health among teenagers, the addictive nature of platforms, and the vast volume of data collected, apply broadly to nearly all social media companies, not just TikTok. The core issue, according to Jackson, stems from Congress's prolonged failure to enact a comprehensive data privacy law. He explained that a Chinese law, enacted six years ago, grants its intelligence services significant power to access data from companies like TikTok without disclosure to users. The TikTok CEO reportedly acknowledged this during the hearing. Several bills have been introduced to address these concerns. The most prominent proposal aims to establish a framework for assessing and responding to risks posed by foreign government-owned apps. Jackson emphasized that this issue extends beyond a single application, pointing out that four of the top five apps in Apple's App Store rankings are currently owned by China. A potential outcome of new legislation could be a forced sale of TikTok, which would transfer ownership away from China. While China is reluctant to sell, it also stands to lose billions in revenue if it cannot operate in the U.S. Jackson stressed that such a sale would allow the large community of small businesses and users who rely on TikTok to continue using the platform. He concluded by advocating for a robust data privacy law that protects users from all internet and social media companies, regardless of their ownership, to prevent similar situations in the future.

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