South Carolina attorney general targets TikTok

The Republican Party is increasing pressure on TikTok on several fronts. South Carolina Attorney General, Alan Wilson announced that his office is in talks with colleagues in other states to investigate the Chinese Communist government-owned company, with a view to raising a lawsuit similar to the one they just won against Google, and for which the big tech company was ordered to pay a record fine. In addition, conservative representatives demanded explanations and additional information from the social network after it provided the House of Representatives with allegedly "incomplete, false and misleading information."

After reaching, —together with 39 other Attorneys Generals,— a record agreement that will force Google to pay 391.5 million dollars for its privacy policy transgressions, Wilson warned in Just The News that "We're talking to other states right now and we're going to be doing to TikTok what we've done to Google. We're going to be looking at them the way they've been looking at us."

TikTok, "really scary."

Wilson again highlighted the danger posed by TikTok and the complete lack of public awareness in these cases. "I'm in the National Guard. I've gotten cyber briefings on what the capabilities of big tech are. It is terrifying. If people actually knew how much companies like TikTok — owned by the Chinese government — actually knew about you, there would be more concern. A big tech company that is owned by the Chinese government is really scary."

For this reason, he considers it essential to explain what the actual currency of these apparently free platforms is. "I tell people when you're using an app or a platform, whether it's Google or TikTok, or Snapchat or Twitter — if you are receiving a free service or free goods from a big tech company, you are in fact, the goods and services that are being sold. Your data is what is being monetized. Nothing is actually free. They are monetizing your personal data."

GOP demands more information

In addition to the judicial arena, the Republican Party is also tightening the screws politically on TikTok. After receiving in September, documentation requested in July, Conservative representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers and James Comer have sent a letter to the CEO of the technology company, Shou Zi Chew, in which they reproach him for not answering all the questions and providing "false and misleading" information.

"We still have unanswered questions, and you failed to provide responsive documents requested by the committee. Additionally, some of the information TikTok provided during the staff briefing appears to be untrue or misleading, including that TikTok does not track U.S. user locations. As such, we renew our request for documents and information." reads the letter. In addition, the company is required to send to the House, the drafts of the negotiations held with the Biden Administration so that TikTok can continue to operate in the United States.