Cedar Rapids Today

Today, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) expressed her concerns about TikTok's ties to Communist China during an event in Cedar Rapids. Hinson emphasized the importance of national security in relation to the popular social media platform.

In her statement, Hinson said, "If TikTok truly cared about supporting American businesses and entrepreneurs, they would cut ties with Communist China-controlled ByteDance. As long as TikTok is owned by ByteDance, Communist China controls the content we see and the Chinese government can access Americans' data, passwords, and keystrokes with the click of a button. I am proud to have co-led the bipartisan effort to force TikTok to sever its relationship with Communist China so Americans can use this app safely."

Hinson's concerns are not unfounded as she co-led the bipartisan Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which aimed to compel TikTok to sever its ties with ByteDance. Recently, President Biden signed legislation mandating ByteDance to divest from TikTok due to national security worries.

The issue at the core of Hinson's statement is the access the Chinese government has to TikTok data held by ByteDance. The Congresswoman's stance reflects a broader bipartisan effort to ensure that American data and privacy are not compromised by foreign adversaries.

As the debate over TikTok's ownership and security implications continues, Hinson's strong stance underscores the need for vigilance in safeguarding American interests in the digital age.