President Donald Trump's executive order on TikTok brought about an essential step towards strengthening America's national security in the digital age. We live in a time where so much of our lives happens through and on smartphones. Social media platforms operated by foreign governments have unfettered access to sensitive and personal information. By addressing the risks posed by a foreign-owned app with ties to the CCP, President Trump took a proactive stance to protect the privacy and safety of American citizens.
TikTok, a platform beloved by young Americans, has been collecting a vast amount of personal data. From locations and contacts to messages and browsing habits, even facial recognition information, it is all accessible to the CCP while the app is in use. The potential threat to the privacy of American citizens is not just a possibility; it's a reality. This level of access, if owned or accessible by a foreign government, poses a serious security risk.
The risk was significant enough for me to pass a law in TN that banned any of our Universities from allowing Chinese-owned companies on their WiFi servers. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate.
Through these digital channels, nations such as China or Russia could peer into "American life and habits." From the routines of family businesses to the private activities of ordinary citizens, someone, something, or some government could be watching. Kids and teens, often unaware of the real risks, could be exposing themselves to the exploitation of personal and family information. This is not a distant threat; it's a present danger.
President Trump's action highlighted a broader principle: National security in the 21st century is not just about border security and physical weapons; it's also about protecting data and technology. His executive order was a signal that the United States would not tolerate the silent harvesting of personal information/metadata by foreign powers. When Trump took this stand, he set a precedent for safeguarding American innovation, business integrity, and individual privacy.
Ultimately, Trump's move made the platform far safer for its users, and it pushed for best practices, higher standards of transparency, and accountability in this modern tech world. His administration has recognized that defending the nation means defending its digital framework as well. This executive order on TikTok was not just about one app; it was about making sure the next generation can engage with their cell phones and tablets without carelessly putting their security at risk.
TikTok can and will be useful in our nation if the proper constraints are put upon it. Those constraints, outlined in The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, include a framework that would allow TikTok to operate under national security requirements to quell the threats that the application, and others like it, could have on the American people. The United States federal government will control the application's algorithm and data security. The controlling partners of the company will consist of American investors, rather than ByteDance, the application's parent company, which the Chinese Communist Party directly controls. These American investors will maintain the majority of monetary investments in the company.
As conservatives, we champion the freedom of Americans to make their own choices about the apps they use, and that's why I believe action was needed when Tennessee passed my legislation all the way back in 2023. Under former President Joe Biden's Administration two years ago, TikTok was not considered a safe product for America's youth due to the influence of foreign agents from China seeking to invade American privacy. The weakness of the executive office allowed this to occur without any repercussions or negotiations.
Now, on all fronts, President Trump is taking the necessary steps to ensure national security thrives while banking on American success for the survival of TikTok. Not only did Trump ensure that the app is safe for usage in terms of national security, but he has also convinced various American investors to put the American people first.
The President knows that if the app is going to survive, it must involve America. National security is protected when the government prioritizes Americans over foreign entities, and the new regulations reflect this. This is precisely what the President has accomplished by stepping up and saving TikTok.
Jeremy Faison represents Tennessee's 11th House District, which encompasses the people of Cocke County and parts of Hamblen and Jefferson Counties. He currently serves as the Chairman of the House Republican Caucus in House Leadership.
