China - TikTok Talks $

TikTok talks money. Despite being an insidious influence on American culture and national security, TikTok has support from many monied and influential elite leaders in the U.S.

Money talks. Wall Street billionaire Jeff Yass is fighting to stop a ban on Chinese-owned TikTok on the grounds of protecting free speech and innovation. Yass’s support of TikTok could be because of his $21 billion ownership stake in ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. ByteDance is headquartered in Beijing. If TikTok is banned in the U.S., the market value of ByteDance would decrease along with Yass’s personal fortune.

Yass is also a top donor to Republican causes, including Club for Growth (CFG). He has donated $61 million to this group since 2010. CFG is actively and publicly rallying Republicans to oppose a ban on TikTok.

Three days after Senator Josh Hawley (R. Mo.) tried to fast-track a Senate bill to ban TikTok, Senator Rand Paul (R. Ky.) stood on the Senate floor and quashed the bill. Yass and his wife, Janine, have donated over $24 million to Paul or his committees since 2015. Another Republican senator opposing a ban on TikTok is Thomas Massie from Kentucky. He receives CFG funding and says he doesn’t like TikTok but thinks the ban isn’t right because “the cure is worse than the disease.” TikTok is also sending its own lobbyists and dark money cronies to Congress to oppose the ban. Many TikTok followers are skeptical of the ban.

Senator Marco Rubio (R.FL.) is an outspoken opponent of TikTok, as is Senator Hawley. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has labeled TikTok “China’s digital fentanyl.” FBI Director Christopher Wray has raised national security issues about TikTok. The FBI is concerned that the CCP will use its ability to control the app's algorithm, “which allows them to manipulate content” to influence users.

Free speech is a basic block in the foundation of American civilization. However, free speech does not include shouting “fire” in a theater if there is no fire, and free speech does not include advocating for the murder of another person. Do laws allow unfettered access for children to pornography? Do laws enable unfettered access to opioid drugs?

TikTok poisons American children and American culture. It is a Chinese company that must, by a 2017 CCP security law, support the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) policies and provide all data to the CCP if so demanded. Chinese citizens who support the CCP will adhere to the Communist guidelines. Therefore, it is unlikely that TikTok executives would defy the CCP in turning over data.

TikTok is part of the unrestricted warfare being waged by the CCP against the United States. The app steers users down rabbit holes where China is good and free-market American capitalism is bad. Users are forbidden to bring up Tibet, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, or Taiwan independence.

Countries throughout the world have or are contemplating banning TikTok for its content. In 2020, India banned it along with 58 other Chinese apps, including WeChat, because they were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of the state and public order.” In Africa, Senegal banned TikTok because of hateful and subversive messages. Kenya is considering a ban because of TikToks sexually explicit materials. Other countries in the world considering bans are Jordan and Kyrgyzstan.

Summary

TikTok’s addiction is harmful to the development of teens. Recent examples of its malignant influences include challenges resulting in deaths in boat jumping, stealing Kia and Hyundai cars, store thefts, football game activities, and cooking food in Nyquil. It should be noted TikTok is not allowed to operate in China.

Vast amounts of personal data are being collected on TikTok users. Supposedly, the data is not stored in China, but several examples prove otherwise. With current computer capabilities, the data collected is useful to CCP intelligence/military agencies.

But the major threat of TikTok is its app programming poisoning U.S. elections, public discourse, and culture. It is the fentanyl (another poison from the CCP) of the internet. Even more disturbing, TikTok is testing a partnership with Google to enhance its search features.

Action

1. Recognize the CCP is waging unrestricted war against the United States.
2. Establish a policy of RECIPROCITY.
a. U.S. media/internet companies cannot operate in
China, so Chinese companies such as TikTok/WeChat
should not be allowed in the U.S.
b. No land purchases in the U.S. by Chinese
nationals or their agents.
3. Invest in the U.S. military and intelligence agencies.
4. Decouple from China.
5. Wall Street to stop funding the CCP military/industrial complex.

Peace Through Strength!

Laurence F. Sanford
Senior Analyst
American Security Council Foundation
www.ascf.us