How Trump calls TikTok a threat but says some kids could 'go crazy' without it
March 11, 2019 (Reuters) - In addition to claiming that a ban on the well-known app would harm some children and simply enhance Meta Platforms' (META.O), opens new tab Facebook, which the Republican has sharply criticised, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump stated on Monday that TikTok posed a threat to national security.
As senators consider a plan this week that would enable ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, about six months to sell the short video app that 170 million Americans use, Trump expressed his concerns once more.
Under fast-track rules, which call for two-thirds of members to vote "yes" in order for a legislation to pass, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on Wednesday.
TikTok said in a letter obtained by Reuters that it is "not owned or controlled by the Chinese government" and that if the business was sold, the $1.5 billion investment TikTok has made to secure American data would not be continued by a new buyer. The letter was sent to Congress late on Monday.]
"Ironically, U.S. user data could be less secure under a divestment scheme," the business stated.
According to two sources, the FBI, Justice Department, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence are scheduled to provide House members with a classified briefing on Tuesday. During a hearing on Monday, FBI Director Chris Wray echoed previous worries on TikTok.
The U.S. Intelligence Community's 2024 Annual Threat Assessment was made public on Monday. It stated that during the 2022 U.S. midterm election cycle, "TikTok accounts run by a PRC propaganda arm reportedly targeted candidates from both political parties."
Last week, Reuters was the first to publish on a document that the Justice Department released outlining its security concerns regarding TikTok.
"My goal is not to double the size of Facebook," Trump stated to CNBC on Monday. "Facebook and other platforms, but primarily Facebook, will gain a great deal if TikTok is banned. Facebook, in my opinion, has been incredibly dishonest."
According to Trump's confirmation on CNBC, he recently met with investor Jeff Yass, whose firm Susquehanna International Group has stock in ByteDance. According to Trump, they didn't discuss TikTok.
On Monday, Meta Platforms' stock ended the day 4.4% lower at $483.59. The business declined to provide a statement.
"KIDS WILL ACT OUT"
Before, on January 6, 2021, during the U.S. Capitol riot, Trump had blasted the business that is now known as Meta Platforms for taking away his access to Facebook and Instagram and deleting two of his posts. February 2023 saw the reinstatement of his accounts.
Trump added that young people would be impacted by a ban on TikTok. "There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it," he stated. "There's a lot of good and there's a lot of bad with TikTok."
TikTok claims the House measure is effectively a prohibition, stating that it has not shared and will not share user data from Americans with the Chinese government. It's uncertain if TikTok could be divested in six months or if China would authorise any sale.
As stated by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, "we must ensure that TikTok cannot be weaponized by the Chinese government against American users and our government through data collection and propaganda."
Per the measure, ByteDance would have 165 days to unload TikTok. If it is unable to accomplish this, Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) and Apple's (AAPL.O) app stores open a new tab. It was illegal for Google and other companies to offer TikTok or give Web hosting services to applications under ByteDance management.
Trump attempted to outlaw TikTok and WeChat, a Chinese-owned company, in 2020, but the courts stopped him.
Getting legislation adopted by the House and Senate in an election year may be challenging due to the popularity of the app. The Biden reelection campaign joined TikTok last month.
The Trump campaign isn't on TikTok.
Source: reuters.
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