'Completely wrong': Internet split over RFK Jr's threat to challenge TikTok ban, calls it a 'smoke screen'

WASHINGTON, DC: Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr threatened he would challenge the impending TikTok ban as the US nears the possibility of blocking the Chinese-owned video app, The Hill reported.

"I'm going to file a lawsuit challenging the TikTok ban on Constitutional grounds," Kennedy wrote on X on April 26

"Don't be fooled — the TikTok ban is not about China harvesting your data. That's a smoke screen. Intelligence agencies from lots of countries, especially ours, are harvesting your data from everywhere all the time," he claimed.

Kennedy made the claim following President Joe Biden's signing of the $95 billion foreign aid bill that included the TikTok ban on April 22, in the event that the app's Chinese parent company ByteDance refused to sell it. The firm's officials declared they would not divest the platform and would challenge the "unconstitutional" law in the court.

Robert F Kennedy Jr claims TikTok is not entirely Chinese-owned

Kennedy attempted to substantiate his claim, dismissing the Biden administration's stance that it could breach national security.

"TikTok isn't even majority Chinese-owned, and the company agreed to put its data behind a US firewall. The Biden administration rejected that deal," he wrote.

The environmental lawyer also pointed out the repercussions of banning the app, which youngsters use to earn income. "Congress and the administration don't understand that TikTok is an entrepreneurial platform for thousands of American young people. They want to screw them over just so they can pretend to be tough on China," he said.

According to TikTok, more than 150 million Americans are on the platform as of March 2023. And out of this, only the top 25% of adults produce 98% of the publicly accessible videos, as per a recent study by the Pew Research Center.

"The TikTok ban is yet another example of how neither political party has any compunctions about sacrificing your freedoms, rights, and choices, when it serves their political interests," Kennedy, whose focal campaign point is freedom of speech, added.

However, despite the looming ban of the widely used app, which is more prevalent among Gen Z, Biden's re-election campaign said it would continue to stay on TikTok to reach out to young voters.

Social media debate

While some netizens supported the TikTok ban, another group sided with Kennedy.

A user wrote, "This is completely wrong. Tik Tok is owned by Chinese company Bytedance. And they have no choice but to hand over any of your information to the CCP or honor any demands made by them. There is no due process there."

While one remarked, "Anyone with cognitive thought can see it's nothing to do with tiktok, it's about control."

"Kennedy is ignoring, or unaware, that tiktok has repeatedly lied about its data collection policies," a user argued. Whereas one response read, "I don't use TikTok, I don't like TikTok, and I think those who use it should evaluate their use of it. However, it should be up to the individuals to decided to use it or not, not the government to decide for them."

Someone else said, "There are ways to prevent China from harvesting data on TikTok without banning it. And they know that."

"Tiktok should be banned unless they comply with our security standards!...smokescreen or not!!! @YouTube should be investigated for discriminating against creators they don't like, mostly conservatives; they are in bed with the deep state and EVERYONE knows it!" another said.

"It is not about tiktok. It's about control," an individual wrote. On the other hand, a person argued, "We still want it banned. Sure, unveil the dirt that they’re hiding, but it shouldn’t be a Chinese government owned company in the US."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.