House Intel Panel Chairman Says Ban Or Sale Of TikTok Appears Inevitable

TikTok CEO banned from testifying before US Congress

Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, answered "yes" to a CBS News question whether a TikTok ban in the US is imminent; He also said the company's CEO's assurances that US users' data had been sequestered by Chinese authorities were "unreliable." However, Turner hinted that the sale of the company could ease national security concerns.

Turner said in an interview that he doesn't think social media companies "are going to continue like this in the long term."

The Ohio Republican's comments came after TikTok CEO Show Zi Chu testified before being cross-examined by bipartisan House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday.

“We know that companies controlled by China are definitely controlled by the Chinese Communist Party,” Turner said. “There is no division in our country, for example, between government and business. This should really worry everyone, because if they download the TikTok app, they are giving access to any information and data they can get right into the hands of the Chinese Communists. Party."

Why is Congress suspicious of TikTok?

Turner, a G-8 member of Congress familiar with the government's most secretive intelligence services, predicted big changes for the app, which has 150 million users in the US.

He said that spinning off or selling the company could solve national security issues, but it depends on the structure and details.

"I think there should be a lockdown, a ban or something to solve this problem because it's a big security issue," Turner said. “Besides governments banning the TikTok app from government devices, you know. This is because they have come to the conclusion that the app poses a security threat to their nation and country. People should come to the same conclusion that this is also a risk for them.”

Asked how much damage TikTok has done to US user data, Turner replied: “It’s more of a vulnerability than a damage. But I think the damage is much greater, and it's definitely linked to national security."

Turner added that he believes there is no division between TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party.