US President Joe Biden's reelection campaign has sparked controversy with its recent decision to join TikTok, a move that has reignited concerns over national security.
The campaign, aiming to engage with younger voters, launched its TikTok account during the Super Bowl, signaling a strategic effort to leverage the platform's vast user base ahead of the upcoming presidential election in November.
However, the decision has drawn scrutiny from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, highlighting apprehensions surrounding the popular social media app's ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Senator Mark Warner, chair of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed reservations about the move, emphasizing the need for caution in light of ongoing national security implications.
"I think that we still need to find a way to follow India, which has prohibited TikTok," remarked Warner, pointing concerns made by several US lawmakers who have advocated for banning TikTok over fears that the Chinese government could access user data or influence content on the platform.
The Biden administration's stance on TikTok has remained consistent, with White House spokesperson John Kirby reaffirming existing policies regarding the use of TikTok on government devices. Despite the campaign's assertion that it would employ advanced safety precautions, the decision to embrace TikTok comes amid an ongoing security review of the app by US authorities.
TikTok, for its part, has consistently denied allegations of sharing US user data with the Chinese government and has implemented robust measures to safeguard user privacy. However, the company's response to the latest developments remains unclear as it did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In response to inquiries, the Biden campaign reiterated its commitment to engaging voters across various social media platforms, including Meta's Instagram and Truth Social, the latter being founded by former President Donald Trump.
The campaign emphasized that its presence on TikTok would not interfere with the ongoing security review of the app.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had previously demanded TikTok's Chinese owners to divest their shares to address national security concerns. However, the Biden administration has yet to take decisive action on this matter, despite mounting pressure from lawmakers.
While the review by CFIUS continues, the White House has endorsed legislation proposed by Senator Warner and others to equip the administration with new tools to address threats posed by foreign-owned apps.
Meanwhile, TikTok's user base in the US continues to grow, with recent figures indicating a substantial increase in American users.
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