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Republican lawmakers urge Biden to deactivate TikTok: A group of 18 Republican lawmakers has asked President Joe Biden to deactivate his campaign’s TikTok account, expressing national security worries.
In a letter obtained by Reuters, the lawmakers claim Biden is overlooking TikTok’s well-known national security risks. They question how the federal government can caution Americans about the app’s dangers when the Commander in Chief utilizes it.
Republican Lawmakers Urge Biden to Deactivate TikTok
Biden’s campaign recently joined TikTok on Feb 11, aiming to connect with younger voters. The campaign’s first video has gained 9.6 million views, and it has around 162,000 followers.
Senators Marco Rubio, Jerry Moran, John Barrasso, Marsha Blackburn, Rick Scott, and Josh Hawley are among the lawmakers urging Biden to “delete your account and publicly acknowledge the national security threat posed by TikTok.”
As of Monday, the White House, TikTok, and the Biden campaign have not responded to requests for comments on the letter.
Also Read: Republican lawmakers urge Biden to deactivate TikTok
Last week, Democratic Senator Mark Warner raised concerns about TikTok’s national security implications and the Biden campaign’s decision to join. He mentioned India’s ban on TikTok, expressing concern about a mixed message.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley reiterated her call to ban TikTok, calling it incredibly dangerous during a Fox News event on Sunday.
Congressional efforts to ban TikTok or impose new restrictions have stalled. Some lawmakers advocate placing China-based TikTok parent ByteDance on an export control list through the Commerce Department.
TikTok reported to Congress last month that 170 million Americans use the app, up from 150 million a year earlier.
The White House highlighted last week that a ban on TikTok’s use on government devices, approved by Congress in 2022 and signed by Biden, remains in effect.
In March 2023, the US Treasury-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) demanded TikTok’s Chinese owners sell their shares or face a potential ban. However, the administration has not taken any action on this so far.
Also Read: Republican lawmakers urge Biden to deactivate TikTok
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