Mike Pence says TikTok should be banned for collecting data on Americans ‘every single day’
- The former US vice-president, who is set to deliver a policy speech on Beijing next week, called the app a platform for China’s government
- The fight over TikTok is just one aspect of the growing tensions between the US and the Asian giant over their technological ambitions
“We ought to be banning TikTok. TikTok is a platform for the Chinese Communist government. They are collecting data on Americans every single day,” Pence said on Friday. “Young Americans need to know that their privacy is being compromised.”
Pence’s comments come before a policy speech he will deliver on Monday on China. The relationship between the world’s two largest economies has gained growing attention in the 2024 presidential race. Republican candidates, including Pence, have criticised President Joe Biden, saying he must take a tougher line with Beijing over a number of issues.
Pence delivered a jab at one of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
“I know that one of my competitors, Vivek Ramaswamy in the Republican primary, he had rightly described TikTok as a digital fentanyl for American youth, and this week he signed up for TikTok. He said he’d met with one of their executives and they changed his mind,” Pence said. “Well, they are never going to change my mind.”
The fight over TikTok is just one aspect of the growing tensions between the US and China over their technological ambitions. Biden has limited exports of advanced chipmaking technology over fears it could be used to help China’s military. China in turn has imposed its own restrictions, including on US chip maker Micron Technology Inc.’s ability to sell products.