US Republicans, TikTok, and Concerns about Chinese Interference

WASHINGTON, KOMPAS.com – Top US Republicans voiced their concerns on Tuesday over possible foreign interference by China through the Chinese-owned TikTok platform in US elections.

The group of US Republicans asserted the need for the Trump administration to assess the threat of meddling by China.

In a letter written by Republican lawmakers such as Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton, TikTok’s alleged censorship of sensitive content were highlighted.

Read also: Joe Biden Takes Staunch Approach against Foreign Interference in US Elections

Among the example provided was a video critical of China’s treatment of its Uighur minority.

US Republicans also pointed to alleged attempts by Beijing to manipulate political discussions on social media apps.

"We are greatly concerned that the (Chinese Communist Party) could use its control over TikTok to distort or manipulate (political) conversations to sow discord among Americans and to achieve its preferred political outcomes," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the director of the FBI.

A company representative said that TikTok, though not a "go-to" for political news, was "proactively investing to safeguard our app," and taking cues from the experience of peers during the last election.

"TikTok already has a strict policy against disinformation, and we don't accept political ads," the representative said, adding that content and moderation policies are led by a California-based team and aren't "influenced by any foreign government."

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment while an ODNI official confirmed receipt of the letter and said "we will respond accordingly."

The FBI also confirmed receipt of the letter and flagged recent comments by FBI Director Christopher Wray.

He argued that China "is going to continue to try to misappropriate our ideas, influence our policymakers, manipulate our public opinion, and steal our data."

Read also: US and China Disagreements Prompt Calls for Global Unity

"They will use an all-tools and all-sectors approach — and that demands our own all-tools and all-sectors approach in response," Christopher Wray added.

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Wednesday that TikTok was under a national security review and that his agency would make a recommendation to the president this week.

The lawmakers, joined by Republican Senators Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst Thom Tillis, Kevin Cramer and Rick Scott, asked the officials to say whether Beijing could amplify certain political views and conduct influence operations through TikTok.

The popular app is owned by Beijing ByteDance Technology Co.

"If evidence emerges of CCP electoral interference via TikTok, would ByteDance be eligible for sanctions?" under an executive order on foreign electoral influence, the lawmakers asked.

TikTok is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration as US-China ties have soured over the pandemic and Beijing’s move to curb freedoms in Hong Kong.

This month, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said action was imminent to address national security risks posed by TikTok.

Trump's poll numbers have been sagging as he prepares to face Democrat Joe Biden in the November election.

In 2019, special prosecutor Robert Mueller's report found extensive cases of Russian meddling that benefited the Trump campaign in the 2016 election.

(Writer: Alexandra Alper | Editors: David Gregorio, Jonathan Oatis)

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-tiktok/u-s-republicans-worry-china-might-use-tiktok-to-meddle-in-election-idUSKCN24T309