(NewsNation) — As the app faces a potential ban, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr says that TikTok poses a private data threat.
“The problem with TikTok isn’t the video platform itself. It’s the fact that it pulls all this very sensitive data from U.S. users … The threat is those data flow back to China,” Carr said.
TikTok and its ownership came up as a topic of conversation in a recent call between Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House said, adding that Biden raised American concerns about the app’s ownership.
Carr says he supports Biden on this topic and that he’s confident the Senate will approve a ban.
“This is a bipartisan issue where the Biden administration has been clear. And Republicans have been, as well,” Carr said. “I’m very confident this will pass the Senate, as well.”
Last month, the House approved a bill that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if Chinese parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell the social media app.
TikTok’s fate now lies in the hands of the Senate.
“I want to make sure that America is protected,” said Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, co-sponsor of the bill. “This is not a ban. ByteDance can divest themselves of this, but the Communist Chinese want our information.”
Meanwhile, TikTok claims it contributed $24.2 billion to U.S. gross domestic product last year and drove $14.7 billion in small-business owners’ revenue, according to a report paid by the app, The Washington Post reported.
“TikTok provides an opportunity for [small and medium-size businesses] to grow by allowing them to market themselves both organically and/or through investing in paid advertising and creator marketing,” the study said.