Holland Reporter

Congressman Bill Huizenga has voted in support of legislation aimed at protecting American data privacy from foreign adversaries, particularly the Chinese Communist Party. The bipartisan legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 352 to 65, addresses concerns related to foreign ownership of social media companies in the United States.

Huizenga highlighted the national security threat posed by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. He emphasized the need for ByteDance to divest from TikTok in order to safeguard the data privacy of Americans, including children, from potential threats posed by foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

In a statement, Huizenga underscored the importance of the legislation, clarifying that it does not entail an immediate ban on TikTok but rather a requirement for the Chinese Communist Party-controlled company to separate from the popular social media platform. He described the legislation as a responsible and targeted effort to protect American data privacy from external threats.

Furthermore, Huizenga criticized the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for its delayed response in addressing the issue, stating that Congress had to intervene due to CFIUS's inaction. He stressed the necessity of proactive measures to safeguard American data privacy in the face of evolving national security challenges.

By voting in favor of this legislation, Huizenga and his colleagues in Congress have taken a significant step towards enhancing data privacy protections for Americans and mitigating potential risks associated with foreign ownership of social media platforms.