Episode #61: President Biden and other US legislators want to put a stop to TikTok

Lawmakers have introduced bills that aim for a national ban of the widely popular video sharing app TikTok, over fears that the Beijing-owned company shares data with the Chinese government.

The first bill, known as the Data Act, prohibits people from using apps that are “subject to the jurisdiction of China” and “other foreign adversaries.” The second bill, referred to as the Data Act, would broaden the executive branch powers to control what apps and technologies Americans can access, while restricting our ability to challenge their actions in the courts.

But groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union oppose the measures, due to concerns that the bills violate First Amendment rights.

With us to discuss the issue is Karen North, Director of the Annenberg Program of Online Communities, at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

She spoke to Digital Village co-host Leilani Albano.