On Monday Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) filed S.B. 4 to restrict access to TikTok on computers, tablets, phones, and other devices owned by the State of Arkansas.
TikTok is the most popular social media platform in the world. The application boasts a billion users worldwide, and 135 million in the U.S., but many Americans are bothered by the application’s possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Chinese company ByteDance owns TikTok. Last week FBI Director Christopher Wray voiced concerns about the CCP’s ability to influence ByteDance and TikTok.
The concerns are similar to those raised about Facebook’s and Twitter’s abilities to harvest user data and display or suppress information in their news feeds.
If the Chinese Communist Party can influence TikTok, the CCP may be able to manipulate content and influence users on the world’s largest social media platform.
S.B. 4 prohibits state employees and contractors from downloading or using the TikTok application on a device that is owned or leased by the State of Arkansas.
The bill does not ban TikTok for every Arkansan, but it does prevent government employees and contractors — such as public school teachers or people who work for government agencies — from using TikTok on phones or computers that belong to the State of Arkansas.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
Related posts:
Measure Would Block TikTok on State Computers and Devices
Bill Filed to Provide Students With Equal Access to College and Career Readiness Assessments Like SAT, ACT Exams
Senate Committee Passes Bill Requiring Age Verification, Parental Consent for Social Media Access
Legislative Subcommittee Approves Sports Betting on Smart Phones in Arkansas