I need a 300 word reply to Ms. Lovell, her discussion post is below:
Earlier during the semester, I had chosen two weeks to write my discussion post about the banning of the social media app, TikTok. I am here to write my very last post for this class about the advances that have been made to permanently ban this app. Owned by a Chinese company, Bytedance, this app poses a serious threat to our security in the United States among other things. There have been studies done that show the severity of mental health problems that stem from excessively using the app. The app is used by over 100 million Americans who are in a wide age range, affecting the young children to the elderly. On Wednesday, The U.S House Foreign Affairs Committee voted along party lines to give President Joe Biden the power to completely ban the Chinese-owned social media app, TikTok. This is the most far-reaching U.S. restriction on any social media app. The lawmakers voted 24 to 16 to approve the measure to grant administration new powers over the ban of this app. We have been told that it is a national security risk. It has also been compared to “A chinese spy balloon into their phones,â€� by Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, who also sponsored the bill. However, it was not made clear how the ban would be enforced. The bill would give the President the power to ban any transactions with TikTok which would prevent anyone in the United States from downloading the app, not just those of government owned devices. While Democrats opposed the bill, civil liberties organizations have deemed the bill unconstitutional. Of course this is a huge debate along party lines, but it is of much growing concern for every user of the app in the U.S., as well as the security of the country itself. Although there hasn’t been specifications on how the ban would be enforced, it would give our president the power to do so. This is definitely a good start in the right direction, but it is not confirmed yet. Before the bill is able to head to Biden’s desk, it must get a floor vote by the House and the democratic-controlled side of the senate. There has been much conversation surrounding the topic of TikTok and for quite some time now, the U.S. has been warned of the risks. I get it, like everything else, most people need to see first hand for themselves before making a final decision. However, I don’t think that the users of TikTok are fully understanding their warnings. China itself is a surveillance entity. TikTok is not used the same in the U.S., as it is in China. TikTok has become an international surveillance mechanism. I agree with Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, with his statement about it being like a chinese spy balloon that was created into our phones. When it comes to receiving a warning, or even multiple warnings, it is mind boggling to me that the users in America do not see the dangers caused from this app. It is more than the videos, the dances, the challenges. It is point blank in the terms and conditions of every social media app that states what you are allowing the app to have access to and share. I know that I have been one of those people in the past to scroll through them and check the “I understandâ€� box without fully understanding. Information is being spread and at a fast speed. I think that it is a good idea for all social media apps, that we improve our policy laws to prevent future situations such as this from happening. TikTok may not be the only app that shares our private information but it is one that is owned by China. This is why the app has become under such discretion. The data from American users could end up in the hands of the Chinese government. The bill has many hurdles that it must overcome before becoming a law. It is expected that the bill will be voted on by the House this month. TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew is to appear before the U.S. Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23. He did meet with the lawakers last month on Capitol Hill. As much as we are fighting to ban the app, they are fighting to keep the app legal in the United States. The civil liberties union has called for lawmakers to oppose the bill, stating that it is “a serious violation to our first amendment rights.â€� This is where my question to you comes from. With all that has been said and the actions that have been taken, do you think that this bill giving Biden the power to fully ban the app is viewed as a violation to our first amendment rights?
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