A new national security watchdog group has initiated a significant ad campaign aimed at exposing TikTok as a tool of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). State Armor Action, the advocacy arm of the nonprofit State Armor, is leading the campaign, which includes targeted digital and national TV advertisements. The group asserts that TikTok is closely tied to the CCP, pointing to the involvement of Zhang Fuping, a CCP official who holds a senior position at ByteDance, TikTok's parent company based in Beijing.
State Armor's founder and CEO, Michael Lucci, has raised concerns about TikTok being a potential propaganda and espionage tool for the Communist Party. Lucci emphasized that TikTok's vast reach in America, with access to over 100 million phones, could enable malign influences on public discourse and even elections.
Critics of TikTok have long expressed worries about the platform's national security implications, citing fears of Chinese government access to user data and potential influence over American youth. The recent ad campaign underscores these concerns and calls for action to address the perceived threat.
While TikTok has denied allegations of CCP influence and data security risks, State Armor and other China hawks remain steadfast in their stance that TikTok poses a danger as long as it remains under the control of individuals like Zhang Fuping.
Recent legislative actions, including a bipartisan bill passed by the House, signal growing bipartisan support for measures that could lead to TikTok's ban in the U.S. if ByteDance fails to divest from the platform within a specified timeframe. The bill reflects ongoing efforts to counter Chinese influence and safeguard national security interests.
State Armor, established earlier this year, focuses on raising awareness about Chinese encroachment and advocating for bipartisan initiatives to mitigate Chinese influence within the United States. The group's latest campaign against TikTok underscores the broader concerns surrounding technology, national security, and foreign influence in the digital age.
