Arrr! The scurvy landlubbers be launchin' their campaign TikTok account, reckonin' this here platform 'may be' a threat to our national security. Avast ye, mateys!
2024-01-27
Arrr, ye scurvy dog, Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego be settin' sail on TikTok to promote his Senate campaign, reckonin' there might be some national security troubles aboard the platform. Avast ye, me hearties, 'tis a jolly way to spread his message!
Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, has launched a TikTok account for his 2024 Senate campaign, despite expressing concerns about the platform's national security risks. Gallego had previously stated that TikTok "may be" a threat to national security due to its potential for gathering personal information for future use by the Chinese government. In 2023, he also expressed interest in joining the House committee on China, specifically mentioning TikTok as an entity they would investigate.However, despite his past concerns, Gallego has now started using the Chinese-linked app as he seeks the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in 2024. He recently uploaded his first video on TikTok, featuring individuals holding up signs in support of his campaign. Gallego's campaign spokesperson emphasized that the candidate would continue to fight for privacy rights and hold China accountable.
Gallego is not the only politician to have flipped on their stance towards TikTok. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, also expressed concerns over the platform's ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but later created an account to promote his re-election campaign. Brown had emphasized the need to protect Ohioans' personal information from the CCP, suggesting that TikTok could jeopardize privacy. However, he later launched his own account, contradicting his previous statements.
Many Republicans and Democrats have expressed concerns about TikTok's ties to the CCP, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the platform's potential national security risks. As politicians navigate their campaigns and engage with social media platforms, the issue of privacy and national security continues to be a subject of importance and scrutiny.