We must protect Floridians from communist China’s trojan horse: TikTok

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Last month, I introduced HB 563 to ban TikTok on state-issued government devices.

This legislation is an essential first step in protecting Floridians from the Chinese Communist Party’s national security risks. Some may argue that the app is just a fun way to pass the time, but we cannot ignore the potential dangers it poses to our state and country.

The FBI has long warned about TikTok’s data collection practices and the potential for the CCP to use this data for their own purposes.

Additionally, recent reports have highlighted the app’s browser and keystroke tracking capabilities, further emphasizing the need for action.

Florida must do everything in its power to protect its residents and sensitive state information from foreign threats.

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China and is required by Chinese law to comply with their government’s requests for information. This means that any data collected by TikTok is potentially accessible by the Chinese government.

Floridians should also take steps in their personal lives to protect themselves.

It is not just elected officials who should be concerned about this app; individuals and businesses also need to be aware of the potential risks. TikTok’s algorithms can track and analyze user behavior, creating detailed profiles of individuals that can be used for targeted advertising or even worse, identity theft.

Additionally, businesses that use TikTok for marketing purposes may unwittingly be providing valuable data to hackers and an adversarial foreign superpower.

Banning TikTok on state-issued devices is just the beginning. The larger issue at hand is the need for the federal government to take a hard look at the ownership and operation of TikTok.

I am pleased by reports that the United States government is pushing for the app be sold to a different owner with no ties to the CCP.

But if it is not, TikTok should be banned completely in the United States.

This is not an overreaction; it is a necessary step to protect our national security and the privacy of Americans.

We cannot continue to ignore the potential risks posed by TikTok. The app has been downloaded over 2 billion times worldwide, and its user base continues to grow.

With each new user, more personal data is collected and potentially accessed by the CCP. The risks are too great to ignore. Other countries, including India and Pakistan, have already taken action against TikTok for similar reasons.

The risks are not limited to one geographic location. The app is Communist China’s 21st century Trojan horse — and we have no time to waste.

The risks of inaction are simply too great. This is not a partisan issue. All of us owe it to Floridians and our country to take swift and aggressive action to protect them from the CCP.

Carolina Amesty represents District 45 in the Florida House. You can follow her on Twitter at @carolina_amesty.