With the Chinese surveillance balloon having finally been shot down, concerns about how deep Chinese espionage against American interests has gone. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL-1) simply says that with the balloon destroyed, "now blow up TikTok."
Now blow up TikTok
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 5, 2023
A second follow-up tweet adds, "TikTok is a bigger threat than the Balloon."
TikTok is a bigger threat than the Balloon https://t.co/sAUfVo9RYR
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 5, 2023
With these two tweets, Rep. Gaetz joins Florida's Senators Rick Scott (R) and Marco Rubio (R) in demanding the popular social media app be banned from the United States.
As Sen. Scott recently put it, "Communist China isn't our friend & every time you get on TikTok. They're collecting data to harm YOU and YOUR FAMILY."
Communist China isn't our friend & every time you get on TikTok.
They're collecting data to harm YOU and YOUR FAMILY.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 5, 2023
Shortly after, Scott also says any concerns about TikTok are "100% accurate." "The CCP is collecting your data through TikTok and watching you with drones purchased by the U.S. govt," he warns." However, "what's crazier is when I tried to stop it, House & Senate Intel wouldn't allow it."
Suspicions that the CCP is spying on your family are 100% accurate. The CCP is collecting your data through TikTok and watching you with drones purchased by the U.S. govt.
What's crazier is when I tried to stop it, House & Senate Intel wouldn't allow it.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 5, 2023
Sen. Rubio has long been sounding the alarm on TikTok's possible use for espionage by China, tweeting on Thursday that "the Communist Party of China has the ability & intent to use @tiktok_usto influence, mislead & harm America." Because of this, he adds "that is why you see growing bipartisan support to ban it."
The Communist Party of China has the ability & intent to use @tiktok_us to influence, mislead & harm America.
That is why you see growing bipartisan support to ban it https://t.co/apTIZ6D9wf
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 2, 2023
The Wall Street Journal article Sen. Rubio's tweet cites says that several Democrats are joining Republicans in calling for TikTok to be banned. These are Sen. Michael Bennett (D-CO), Rep. Raj Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Sen. Mike Warner (D-VA).
Back in December, Rubio claimed the app interfered in the midterms, creating fake news and anti-Republican attack ads that are widely viewed. "Chinese state-run media entities are posting things, making them look like news stories" Rubio states.
Additionally, he alleges Chinese media outlets are "producing these attack ads against Republicans on TikTok for free, and using the algorithms to target people that they know live in those states or care about these issues."
