Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently made headlines when she spoke out against a potential national ban of the Chinese-owned app TikTok.
AOC argued that any potential spyware risks associated with using the app should not be dealt with by hastily instituting a blanket ban; rather, a broader data protection law should be invested in by the American government.
Daily Wire reports, in response to a nationwide ban on TikTok, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) weighed in on the debate.
On Saturday, the Democratic Socialist and member of the “Squad” used TikTok to oppose bipartisan support for a nationwide ban on the app. Security and data privacy concerns were minimized by AOC, who said TikTok was just one app harvesting huge amounts of data. In place of banning a single app, she proposed a broader data privacy law.
Ocasio-Cortez also criticized the app’s national security concerns. Congress has not received a classified briefing on legislation with national security implications. “Why would we be proposing a ban regarding such a significant issue without being clued in on this at all?” she asked. “It just doesn’t feel right to me.” She also said that Congress needs to make its case for banning TikTok to the public.
AOC is not the first Democratic Party member to oppose a ban on TikTok. In a video posted to the app Thursday, her “Squad” colleague Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) lobbied against a ban. According to Bowman, TikTok has created a community and a space for free speech for 150 million Americans and counting. There are also five million small businesses selling their products and services there and making a living.”
Following a warning from the House’s Chief Administrative Officer about national security concerns regarding TikTok, Bowman’s spokesperson previously said the lawmaker would “pause on usage” of the account.
TikTok was also defended this week by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI). “I share many of the same security and privacy concerns over TikTok. But over 100 million Americans use the app and many to support small businesses and important social causes,” Garcia said on Wednesday evening. “We should work towards a solution that addresses concerns and allows the app to continue.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has publicly taken a stand against the national ban of TikTok, a Chinese owned app which some consider spyware used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many argue that TikTok should be banned in order to protect Americans from the political agenda of the CCP. In response, AOC claims that such a ban is influenced by lobbyist power and corporate corruption, and fails to address the lack of broader data protection laws in America. Her solution? Congress should pass data compliance laws to protect Americans from spyware created abroad. To many this may seem radical, but if we are to be living in a free nation, with untainted elections and uninfluenced politicians and policy makers, it’s time that our government starts protecting its citizens from spyware and other intrusions into their data privacy before it’s too late.
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