FCC Commissioner calls for urgent TikTok ban amid national security risks

FCC Commissioner, Brendan Carr has called for U.S. Council on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to apply pressure Congress to ban TikTok.

It comes amid ongoing concerns of risks to national security and the use (or misuse) of user data.

Concerns surrounding TikTok have continued to grow in line with its rapid adoption rate with the platform downloaded more than 200 million times within the U.S.

Security fears originate from TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, being a Chinese Owned company.

However, TikTok is currently in negotiations to see if can be dismantled by its Chinese company.

They are also suggesting it be transferred to a U.S. company so that it can continue to legally operate throughout the United States.

An agreement has not yet been reached with Department of Justice official Lisa Monaco citing concerns over a strong link to Beijing still inherent in the current deal proposal.

Commissioner Carr stated in relation to TikTok’s bid to continue to operate in the U.S.,

“I don’t believe there is a path forward for anything other than a ban.”

TikTok hits back

Now, TikTok has hit back at the claims by commenting,

“Commissioner Carr has no role in the confidential discussions with the U.S. government related to TikTok and appears to be expressing views independent of his role as an FCC commissioner.

We are confident that we are on a path to reaching an agreement with the U.S. Government that will satisfy all reasonable national security concerns.“

TikTok has repeatedly denied providing any user data to the Chinese Government claiming data is stored outside of China.

However, recent reports have suggested TikTok employees have accessed personal, non-public available user data.

There are also concerns they’re pushing pro-Beijing messaging to U.S. users.

At this stage it seems TikTok will continue to operate in the United States.

This is despite the ongoing calls for the platform to be banned.

Dr. Karen Sutherland, University of the Sunshine Coast  & Dharana Digital contributed to this report.