Former Vice President Mike Pence has labeled TikTok “digital fentanyl,” advocating for legislation mandating either its sale or banning due to security apprehensions. The House is poised to vote on a bill compelling its divestment or facing a ban in the United States.
“The app is so potent and addictive that TikTok is banned within China,” Pence stated in a Fox News opinion column.
However, the assertion is partly inaccurate.
Although TikTok originated in China, it’s inaccessible there for a specific reason. There’s already another app called Douyin, serving as TikTok’s counterpart exclusively for the Chinese market.
Both TikTok and Douyin are owned by ByteDance, with Douyin launching before its American counterpart. Its algorithm laid the groundwork for TikTok’s global success.
As lawmakers deliberate on TikTok’s fate in America, the company is opposing the bill, branding it a “de facto ban,” and asserts investing $1.5 billion to safeguard U.S. user data from Chinese government access. The platform actively protests by sending push alerts, urging users to contact their representatives to prevent a TikTok ban.
Former President Trump, who previously endorsed a TikTok ban, now opposes it, fearing Facebook’s expanding influence.
“Without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger,” Trump expressed during a Monday interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “And I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people.”
TikTok CEO Shou Chew faced congressional scrutiny over security risks and child abuse concerns. Pence insists on preventing CCP control, likening it to not allowing Russia to control news during the Cold War.
House leadership has slated a vote on the measure for Wednesday.
