Guest Introduces Bill to Ban TikTok Over Security Concerns

Washington, D.C. – Last Friday, Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03) introduced legislation to ban the application TikTok on Department of Homeland Security devices.

“In today’s world, we cannot risk compromising important homeland security information to our foreign adversaries,” Congressman Guest said. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could embolden the CCP’s own expansionary goals. In such a scenario, a security breach would be catastrophic to a U.S. response, which is why we must move to ban on DHS devices the use of apps that obtain data on their users and could make that information available to our adversaries. This is a common-sense step to close a potential tool of the CCP to spy on the U.S.”

The bill was introduced as the Biden Administration begins looking to readdress TikTok security issues and eight months after President Biden revoked a Trump Administration attempt to crack down on the Beijing-based app.

A similar ban on the use of TikTok in the United States military has been active since early 2020.

You can read the text of the bill by clicking here.

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Currently serving his second term, Congressman Guest serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, as a Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and as a Member of the Committee on Ethics.

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