Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, has expressed worries about China potentially exploiting TikTok to sway the 2024 U.S. elections. This concern arose during a House of Representatives intelligence committee hearing, where Haines highlighted the fear of Chinese influence through user data access and content manipulation.
Haines did not rule out the possibility of the CCP using TikTok. Recent legislative actions, including a bill spearheaded by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and Republican chair Mike Gallagher, aim to compel ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest within six months. The House is set to vote on this bill imminently.
The U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2024 threat assessment revealed Chinese government-controlled TikTok accounts targeting candidates during the 2022 midterms. FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed these concerns, emphasizing the risks of sharing data with the Chinese government and potential consequences for American devices.
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Haines’ remarks coincide with discussions surrounding a possible TikTok ban, with the platform underlining its commitment to not share U.S. user data with China. Despite President Joe Biden’s indication of support for the bill, passing such legislation in an election year may prove challenging. The swift progress of the bill in the House suggests a looming shutdown of the popular app.
In contrast, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused Democrats of crafting a narrative of foreign election interference via TikTok to insinuate potential 2024 election tampering. Greene hinted at forthcoming actions against social media platforms like X and Truth Social perceived as Democratic threats.
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