Rubio Wants TikTok Banned Due to Data on Americans: ‘If the Chinese Government Asked For it, They Have to Turn it Over’

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FLV) – In an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL, called for TikTok to be banned due to national security concerns.

The senator from Florida said TikTok, which is based in Beijing, is “scooping up a bunch of data” that would have to be handed over to the Chinese Communist Party if they asked for it.

“They’re just scooping all that up and that the Chinese government asked for it to have to turn it over,” he said. “So they know a tremendous amount about Americans in general, about our society, about what messages work gives them a huge advantage. Not to mention the individual data, people that they can acquire.”

Rubio went on to say that videos uploaded to the platform are made to “look like news stories” to target voters and interfere in American elections.

“They attacked me, they attacked Governor Abbott and Senator Cruz in Texas. They did a series of states, these Chinese-run media outlets, and with really small disclaimers on the bottom so you can’t even tell it’s being produced by them.”

The Florida Republican described those videos as “attack ads” being done for free against Republicans.

“They have, they have weaponized that against us now in our election cycle,” Rubio continued.

“Forbes had a piece on that not too long ago. So I think Tiktok should have been banned a long time ago. I wish President trump would have done it. He was close to doing it needs to be done now.”