In a recent development, conservative tech policy experts are calling on Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to hold a hearing on a potential partnership between social media platform TikTok and tech giant Google. The experts have expressed deep concern over the implications this partnership could have on both U.S. markets and the privacy of American citizens.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been a cause for alarm among national security hawks, who fear that the Chinese government could exploit the platform to influence and monitor Americans. Insider first reported the introduction of a search feature within the TikTok app that redirects users to Google’s search results. This move has raised concerns about data privacy and surveillance.
The letter sent to Jordan highlights Google’s own privacy issues, including a $170 million fine in 2019 for illegally collecting data from minors on YouTube without parental consent. The experts argue that if this partnership goes unchecked, Google could consolidate more market share while TikTok gains access to valuable user data.
The experts also emphasize the need for accountability from Big Tech companies, accusing them of silencing Americans and cozying up to the Chinese communist regime. They point out Google’s alleged involvement in assisting the Chinese government with mass surveillance and reports of TikTok engaging in pro-China content moderation.
To address these concerns, the experts, including representatives from the Heritage Foundation, Internet Accountability Project, American Principles Project, and Bull Moose Project, urge Jordan to convene a hearing not only on the TikTok-Google partnership but also on the broader issue of Big Tech’s interference in Americans’ private lives.
Their goal is to ensure that American values such as free-market competition, free speech, and the protection of national interests are upheld as the digital landscape continues to evolve. The experts believe that Congress and the law should hold Big Tech companies accountable for their actions.
Elizabeth Elkind, a reporter for Digital focused on Congress and the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics, provided this report. Elkind has previously contributed to publications such as the Daily Mail and CBS News.
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