More people rely on the internet than ever before to communicate and keep up with current events.
Like with any technology, safely using the internet requires both caution and diligence.
But Mitch McConnell’s latest statement has internet users rolling their eyes.
Mitch McConnell just reaffirmed how little many members of Congress know about TikTok
Billions of people across the globe use the internet to stay up to date with the news, as well as communicate with their friends, colleagues, and family members.
Many of these people, primarily young people, use TikTok, which allows users to view social media content in the form of quick videos.
However, American lawmakers have set their sights on TikTok over concerns that TikTok shares considerable amounts of user data with its parent company, ByteDance, which has direct ties with the communist Chinese government.
Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke out in support of a TikTok ban in the United States on the Senate floor.
Per McConnell, “America’s greatest strategic rival is threatening our security right here on U.S. soil. I’m speaking, of course, about TikTok.”
He added, “No matter how loudly TikTok’s apologists claim that reining in PRC influence violates the First Amendment, the question we’ll face is about conduct, not content. You can use a pen to write salacious anti-American propaganda, and the government can’t censor that content. But if you use the same pen to pick a lock to steal someone else’s property, the government could prosecute you for illegal conduct.”
These remarks echo other statements from lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle, who have come together to support taking action against TikTok.
On March 13, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to effectively ban TikTok by a vote of 352-65. This bill now awaits action from the Senate.
Following the vote, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters, “We want TikTok to exist; we’re not here to ban it. I’ve said we want to make it Tik-Tok-Toe. We want to make it something that is not a fearful social media platform but one that is very positive.”
However, some lawmakers and legal experts have voiced their skepticism of these desires to improve TikTok, fearing that March’s 13 votes will not lead to an improved TikTok, or Tik-Tok-Toe as Nancy Pelosi calls it.
Among these critics is Senator Rand Paul, who tweeted last March that “The House ban of TikTok is not securing our nation—it’s a disturbing gift of unprecedented authority to President Biden and the Surveillance State that threatens the very core of American digital innovation and free expression.”
The House ban of TikTok is not securing our nation—it’s a disturbing gift of unprecedented authority to President Biden and the Surveillance State that threatens the very core of American digital innovation and free expression.
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) March 13, 2024
Banning TikTok could have a major impact on how millions of Americans access digital content
Millions of Americans, primarily young people, rely on TikTok for their news and social media consumption.
Banning TikTok would effectively silence many of these people with the stroke of a pen, which many Americans worry could circumvent their freedom of speech.
And with the 2024 election looming, these concerns have only been amplified.
Stay tuned to Unmuzzled News for any updates to this ongoing story.
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Author: rg_jk
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