If something seems too good to be true, it is probably not. This TikTok banning is no exception.
Both sides agree that TikTok has serious problems. Its roots are in the Chinese Communist Party. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that giving our data to the CCP would be a bad idea.
Congress has shown a rare ability to “get things done” by threatening to ban TikTok in the States. This is a very uncharacteristic act for Congress. Congress is not known for doing things so quickly for the people.
It’s a sign that something is amiss.
Thomas Massie, Kentucky Rep., was the one to discover it. He said on Tuesday that the TikTok banning is a “trojan Horse” that would give the executive branch the power to ban anything on the Internet he dislikes.
The so-called TikTok Ban is a ruse. The President’s power will extend to WEB SITES as well as Apps. It is the US (or offshore) Internet HOSTING SERVICE, or App Store that breaks the law. Not the “foreign enemy.”
The so-called TikTok ban is a trojan horse.
The President will be given the power to ban WEB SITES, not just Apps.
The person breaking the new law is deemed to be the U.S. (or offshore) INTERNET HOSTING SERVICE or App Store, not the “foreign adversary.”https://t.co/iKtAQFGeQH pic.twitter.com/P26hEbzQrf
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 12, 2024
This bill would grant the executive branch of the government broad powers to censor the internet. Telegram, VPNs, and other websites would be affected. It’s also concerning that the term “foreign enemy” is not clearly defined, meaning this could be left to the president’s opinion.
Massie posted a second tweet in which he pointed out the person who was completely immune to this bill. Try to guess who it is by just the language.
If you think this isn’t a Trojan horse and will only apply to TikTok and foreign-adversary social media companies, then contemplate why someone thought it was important to get a very specific exclusion for their internet based business written into the bill: pic.twitter.com/LnHsmEgtt9
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 12, 2024
You win if you correctly guess “Amazon”.
Rand Paul stated that this ultimately is a threat to our First Amendment Rights dressed up as a safety issue for the public.
🧵‼️ The lengths some in Congress will go to for more authority and control over Americans’ freedom of speech never ceases to amaze me. The TikTok bill recently advanced by the House would endanger the 1st amendment and empower the federal govt to ban social media platforms…
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 9, 2024
This bill is much more dangerous than ByteDance, no matter what your opinion on TikTok is. There is no proof that ByteDance has ever shared data with China. The fear is that China might order the Singapore-based firm to do so.
The devil that we know is trying to convince us to give him power to protect against the devil that we don’t yet know. If we know anything, our local devil is not and will never be our friend.
This TikTok Bill should be opposed.
