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After India, bad days are about to come for the Chinese app TikTok in America too. Because, it can be banned. A bill has been introduced in this regard a few days ago. Voting has to be held on this now. Now a shocking thing has come to light in the report of the American Intelligence Agency regarding this application. It is being said that this Chinese app can be used to influence elections in America.
US National Intelligence Agency Director Avril Haynes said at a hearing of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that China could use the social media app TikTok to influence the 2024 US election. Chinese apps have been accused many times of sharing users' data with China. This was the reason why it was banned in India. Asked by Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamurthy whether China's ruling Communist Party (CCP) would use TikTok to influence elections, Haynes said, “We cannot rule out that the CCP will use it.”
Krishnamurthy is also the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on China, which introduced a bill last week with its Republican chairman, Mike Gallagher. According to this, the app's Chinese owner ByteDance has been given about six months to sell the TikTok app, which is used by 170 million Americans. This means that they should either end relations with China or close the app with America.
A shocking thing has come to light in the intelligence report
Let us tell you that the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment Report of the US Intelligence Agency states that TikTok accounts run by the propaganda department of the Chinese government allegedly targeted candidates of both political parties during the 2022 US midterm election cycle. . The report also warns that China may try to influence the US elections in 2024 to sideline its critics and increase social divisions in the US.
At the same time, TikTok has clearly said that it has not and will not share the data of American users with the Chinese government. The app company owner argues the House bill amounts to a ban. However, it is not yet clear whether China will allow the sale of the app or the app will be banned in the US within six months.
TikTok is on target of the US government
TikTok has been the target of the US government for a long time. Apart from influencing the elections, there have been many allegations against TikTok. For example, by knowingly endangering the safety of children, it has introduced features into social media that impair children's mental health, instigate them to commit suicide and make them vulnerable to exploitation. US Senator Tom Cotton recently asked TikTok's Singapore head Shau Zi Chiu about his relations with China and also asked pointed questions about his ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
Over 170 million Americans use TikTok
In March last year, Chinese-owned company TikTok had to face tough questions and answers, after which TikTok CEO Chew appeared before US lawmakers for the first time on Wednesday. Some people suggested that the app was harming children's mental health and that users' data could be given to the Chinese government. Chew revealed that more than 170 million Americans use TikTok every month, an increase of 20 million from the previous year.