TikTok on Trial: Is the popular social media app a threat to national security?

By Sophie Kelly 

In a country built on free speech, the fight over popular social media app TikTok has arguably become one of the most heated debates in the United States government. Recently TikTok, seemingly a simple way to connect with other users on the internet, has become a debate of national security, user privacy, and infringement on the first amendment. This heated debate raises multiple questions leading us to wonder: is TikTok an international threat to the United States and its freedom of speech? 

Yesterday, February 19, the former CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, paid a visit to the House of Homeland Security. American representatives questioned whether he was associated with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) or if TikTok was selling American user data to foreign adversaries. According to Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9), Chew was not very open to questions and was very defensive when asked about the privacy of overall user data. After an abrupt exit, multiple bills were introduced to regulate foreign owned social media apps and national security. 

One act, the “Outcompete, Don’t Delete Act,” proposed federal tax cuts and grants for American social media apps, limiting foreign competitions. This would allow platforms like Meta and X to benefit from user traffic and encourage more advertising in the United States to gain users. The authors of the bill believe that banning TikTok infringes on the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and would rather encourage and incentivise the use of American social media apps. Instead of allowing foreign social media apps to take advantage of American user data, Clarke and Mario Mattera (R-NY-2) say that the best way to combat these foreign adversaries is to not “force investment through bans”, and instead “do things the American way through business.” 

In a second bill, written by Jason Crow (D-TX-06), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2), and Troy Carter (D-LA-2), it was proposed that a task force be created to monitor TikTok servers and ensure that data remains domestic. This task force would be composed of security professionals and FBI agents with cybersecurity backgrounds. In order for this bill to be effective, TikTok would need to have full compliance with the American government — something that is clearly far from reality. Foreign social media apps cannot be expected to agree to this bill because it does not incentivize their compliance. There is no fiscal benefit for their agreement with the U.S. government so in the end they’ll turn back to selling data for monetary benefits. As Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) said, “This bill is nothing but hope and a prayer.” 

Ultimately, the debate over TikTok raises a bigger problem within the House of Homeland Security. In order to protect national security without compromising freedom of speech, both of these bills need some serious amendments. These lawmakers must move beyond the surface and create more realistic and enforceable solutions that address American user privacy and aren’t an issue of government overreach. Accountability measurements and clear limits must be taken to create a more balanced approach. If Congress truly wishes to defend American national security, legislation must better reflect the complexities of the issue rather than relying on unlikely compliance. The future of digital freedom and national security is dependent on the House of Homeland Security, if only they can rely on more than just hope and a prayer.