Australian Opposition Supports US Approach to TikTok
The debate surrounding the popular video-sharing app TikTok and its alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has reached Australian shores. While billionaire Elon Musk and TikTok CEO Shou Chew have voiced their opposition to banning the app, Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson have expressed their support for the U.S. approach and called for similar measures in Australia.
The U.S. government recently passed a bill requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership of the app in the country. Failure to comply would result in a ban across the country, with TikTok being removed from app stores and website hosts. However, Elon Musk believes that banning TikTok contradicts freedom of expression, a fundamental value of American society.
Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley shares concerns about TikTok’s vulnerability to influences from the CCP. She recalls that the company admitted to storing Australian data on their servers, which she believes is inappropriate. Ley supports looking closely at the U.S. approach and considering similar measures in Australia to address cyber-enabled espionage and foreign interference.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson echoes Ley’s sentiments and welcomes the U.S. bill to divest from CCP control. He believes that ByteDance, as a social media giant headquartered in Beijing, is ultimately beholden to the CCP. Paterson urges the Albanese government to follow President Biden’s lead and take steps to make TikTok safer for all Australians by removing CCP control over the app.
TikTok Australia’s General Manager of Global Business Solutions, Brett Armstrong, disputes claims that TikTok poses a national security risk in Australia. He emphasizes that there is zero evidence suggesting such risks and highlights the app’s positive impact on the Australian economy. A recent independent study by Oxford Economics found that TikTok contributes $1.1 billion and 13,000 jobs to the Australian economy.
While the Albanese government has not yet taken a definitive stance on the issue, a spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil stated that they are monitoring events in the U.S. The government has already banned TikTok on government phones and will seek additional advice if necessary based on potential sales or new information from agencies.
The debate surrounding TikTok’s future in Australia continues to unfold. As concerns about cybersecurity and foreign interference persist, the Australian government must carefully consider the implications of TikTok’s operations and weigh them against the app’s positive contributions to the economy and freedom of expression. The decision ultimately rests on finding a balance that ensures national security without stifling innovation and creativity.
