Issue One commends House for addressing TikTok national security concerns, calls for comprehensive safeguards

In response to today’s bipartisan vote in the House that could lead to a ban of TikTok in the U.S., Issue One’s CEO and Founder Nick Penniman issued the following statement:

“Today’s overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in the House is the clearest signal yet that accountability is finally coming to social media companies. A powerful wave of reform and regulation is developing on the Hill. It’s being led by prominent members of both parties and is joined by litigation and actions at the state level. And it’s about time.

“We know, based on a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, that a Chinese propaganda arm has already used TikTok to meddle in American elections, and there’s little doubt that they will continue to use this platform to confuse American voters and magnify divisions as we get closer to the election. We can’t allow a tool this powerful to be in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. There is broad bipartisan agreement that action must be taken to protect our national security, but lawmakers can’t stop there. The same security, privacy, and transparency standards should be applied to American social media platforms, as well as the passage of Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would provide additional safeguards for children.

“Together with Republicans and Democrats, we can build a healthier information environment that strengthens our democracy, rather than undermines it.”

Learn more about Issue One’s social media reform work.