TikTok Ban: A Misguided Assault on Freedom of Expression
Imagine this: you’ve had a long day in classes and doing work, and all you want to do is lie on your floor or on your bed and watch TikTok. There’s nothing better you can think about doing with your time, at least for a little bit, and you want to unwind with some videos that make you laugh, make you cry, or even teach you something new. But it’s too bad because our ancient president and our ancient congress have banned it.
It seems as though Congress can only agree on legislation when it comes to military funding — some of which breaches international law — or infringe on our liberties. On Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, the Senate passed a law that would ban TikTok in the United States if its parent company, Bytedance, does not sell to a U.S. company. This legislature also included aid (in billions) for arming foreign militaries.
It is interesting that this ban was included with what is clearly a foreign aid bill, but not at all surprising as it is a great tactic of getting a majority of votes. Those who support this measure say that this is good for Americans as it protects our data and will lessen possible influence from ‘foreign adversaries.’ In reality, it is part of a growing trend of authoritarian tactics being imposed upon us by those who are meant to represent us. You know it, I know it, and Congress knows it. 170 million Americans from all sides of the political spectrum use TikTok. That is 51 percent of all Americans. Not only is this upcoming ban misguided, but it is extremely unpopular.
The U.S. government’s handling of data protection for its citizens reveals a troubling pattern. Rather than enacting comprehensive data protection laws applicable to all companies regardless of origin, policymakers seem content with measures that risk alienating constituents. Despite heightened concerns over TikTok’s potential impact on national security due to its Chinese ownership, tangible evidence linking the platform to orchestrated efforts by the Chinese government remains elusive. While acknowledging hypothetical risks, intelligence officials have yet to confirm any actual collaboration.
Despite TikTok’s assurances that it doesn’t share U.S. user data with China, apprehensions persist regarding potential manipulation and espionage. Despite evidence pointing to Meta, better and formerly known as Facebook, directly influencing the 2016 election, that company is still allowed to operate within the United States. This makes it glaringly obvious that the U.S. government does not care about companies mining our data or ‘influencing’ us but just about where that problem hypothetically comes from.
Legislative efforts to compel TikTok’s sale reflect congressional unease, yet official investigations have failed to yield conclusive evidence, exposing a disconnect with the hyperbolic rhetoric on Capitol Hill. Although China has utilized TikTok for influence, concrete proof of coordination is still not available. The broader issue of surveillance capitalism is brought to the forefront, with governments worldwide leveraging social media for influence.
Moreover, reports of covert American actions using social media to sway foreign public opinion raise concerns about the widespread adoption of such tactics. In this context, the U.S. government’s approach to data protection appears misguided, focusing on measures that may not effectively address underlying concerns. The absence of public evidence demonstrating TikTok’s cooperation with Chinese authorities or influence over its algorithm undermines the credibility of perceived threats from Beijing, which, thus far, appear largely hypothetical.
After the extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, for two more years, it is clear the government’s intention is to suppress and survey American voices and possible dissent, despite their argument that these laws are protecting citizens from that exact same issue. This, as well as the brutal crackdown of peaceful protests on college campuses, shows us clearly what the United States has always been and will continue to be: a state willing and able to suppress its own citizens and their opinions.
Despite the massive unpopularity of both a TikTok ban and foreign military aid, it seems to be the only thing that can receive outstanding bipartisan votes. Day by day it is becoming clearer that Joe Biden is going to leverage his current massive unpopularity if he loses in November. Instead of listening to the people and what they want, which is usually things as simple as cheaper groceries and rent, he goes out of his way to shoot himself in the foot.
If he loses in November, he will blame his loss on the voters not wanting to ‘save democracy’ enough instead of the real reason he may lose, which will be that he is one of the least popular presidents ever. Biden will go down as a disgrace in American history. Many fearmonger about fascism and a second Trump administration but are too ignorant to look around at the world we currently live in.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Biden has signed into law this ban as well as military aid. This means that Bytedance has nine months to sell TikTok, or it will be banned in America. The combined amount of money going to other countries totals about 94 billion dollars, enough money to end homelessness in America four and a half times over. Freedom of speech is a farce in America, and these last six months have proven that.