The US House of Representatives is due to vote on a bill giving Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to sell that part of its business

China could use social media app TikTok to influence the 2024 US elections, the director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, has told a House of Representatives intelligence committee hearing.

Asked by Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi if China’s ruling Communist party (CCP) would use TikTok to influence the elections, Haines said “we cannot rule out that the CCP would use it”.

Lawmakers have long voiced concerns that the Chinese government could access user data or influence what people see on the app, including pushing content to stoke US political divisions.

  • Coach@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Why only TikTok? Every social media company does the exact same thing.

      • Coach@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Right? The algorithms are all designed to stoke outrage. Why don’t we do something like the EU and pass legislation that applies to all social media companies, not just demonize certain ones. What am I missing here?

    • MicroWave@lemmy.worldOP
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      8 months ago

      While other companies also have issues, TikTok goes further by having strong connection to the PRC:

      Lawmakers have long voiced concerns that the Chinese government could access user data or influence what people see on the app, including pushing content to stoke US political divisions.

      • Coach@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Oh…so it’s ok if a US company pushes political division, but if it’s a foreign company then it’s an issue?