On Sunday, Representative Ro Khanna expressed his concerns about the TikTok bill passed by the House of Representatives last week. He believes it fails to safeguard Americans effectively. Instead, he advocates for alternative legislation that would more efficiently prevent foreign countries from accessing private information.
The House’s bill aims to compel ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, to sell the app or face a ban in the United States. This move stems from worries that ByteDance might share, or be compelled to share, data of American users with the Chinese government. ByteDance has strongly opposed these claims and the legislation.
Khanna, a Democrat representing Silicon Valley in California, voted against the bill due to First Amendment concerns, despite its approval by a wide, bipartisan majority.
He highlighted two main national security concerns cited by the bill’s proponents: the potential for data to be accessed by a foreign government, specifically the Chinese Communist Party, and the possibility of the Chinese Communist Party influencing the app’s algorithms. Khanna suggests that a more narrowly focused law could address both issues effectively.
Khanna proposes banning any transfer of data to foreign countries to protect American data. Additionally, he suggests prohibiting any foreign interference in social media apps, including TikTok. He notes that such laws should also apply to data brokers that sell data to Chinese companies, indicating that the current bill does not fully address the core issue.
The debate over TikTok continued in Capitol Hill last week, leading to the House voting to send the forced-sale bill to the Senate. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not confirmed a floor vote, and it’s uncertain if the proposal will receive the necessary support from 60 senators. The White House has endorsed the legislation.
Despite transcending traditional political alliances in the House, Khanna believes a more effective solution involves multiple steps.
He suggests passing a law to prevent apps from collecting data, holding companies like Oracle and TikTok accountable if data is shared with China, and making it illegal for Chinese nationals or any foreign nationals to manipulate algorithms.
Khanna argues that such legislation would be easier to pass than the current bill and would directly address the problem. He also addresses concerns from TikTok users about the impact of a potential ban on their platforms and businesses, acknowledging the difficulty of transitioning to other apps.
Furthermore, Khanna criticizes the focus on TikTok over more significant issues, such as the failure to pass data privacy laws and laws banning foreign interference.
In a broader context, Khanna defends President Joe Biden’s handling of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. He emphasizes the U.S.’s obligation to help Israel protect itself while acknowledging the administration’s attention to criticisms of Israel’s response.
A movement encouraging Democratic primary voters to cast “uncommitted” ballots against Biden has emerged in several states, including Michigan. Khanna notes that the administration is shifting its stance on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies and has called for a cease-fire following the release of hostages.
Khanna, who has advocated for a permanent cease-fire, acknowledges his disagreements with President Biden but appreciates that the president is willing to listen, contrasting this with Donald Trump’s approach.