Lawmakers, local creator disagree on TikTok | WJHL
Share this @internewscast.com

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Johnson City-based TikTok creator Austin Jenkins, @inspector_aj, described watching federal lawmakers consider a ban of the platform as “nail biting.”

Jenkins went viral on the platform in June 2020, and since then he’s amassed 1.8 million followers on the app and earns 60% of his overall income by posting. But with national leaders again threatening to ban the app, it’s a revenue stream that could soon disappear.

Lawmakers’ concerns about the app are rooted in its relationship with Chinese-based parent company Byte Dance and connections to the Chinese Communist Party.

In Nashville, lawmakers stopped short of a total ban. However, the General Assembly passed legislation restricting access to all Chinese-based social media on state college and university networks.

Bristol Sen. Jon Lundberg sponsored the legislation which he said aims to protect research from being stolen.

He likened allowing foreign-based apps to connect to university Wi-Fi to sharing your home internet password with a neighbor.

“If you can get into my Wi-Fi, you can get into my computer,” said Lundberg.

Jenkins said he understands banning the platform from government devices, but he thinks restricting America’s 150 million TikTok users from accessing the app is a step too far.

“If you ban the app, you’re really limiting freedom of speech for us, literally a third of the entire United States,” said Jenkins.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew told the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday the platform is working on a plan to bring all U.S.-generated user data to servers on American soil, run by Texas-based Oracle.

Tennessee’s partial ban of TikTok will go into effect as soon as Gov. Bill Lee signs the legislation.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Live M1 traffic news as serious crash shuts two lanes with huge rush hour queues

A traffic collision has shut part of the M1 with cameras showing…

Love Island fans ALREADY annoyed with a certain phrase

Ruchee Gurung NAME: Ruchee Gurung AGE: 24 FROM: Sutton  OCCUPATION: Beautician WHY ENTER…

Kari Lake on Trump 2024 bid, Arizona election claims

() — Former Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake expressed continued support…

Jacksonville gun experts share secure storage tips after teen shot while playing with gun

Hundreds of children under the age of 18 accidentally shoot themselves or…

‘Careless’ Matt Hancock ordered to apologise to the Commons for trying standards watchdog

Former health secretary Matt Hancock has been told to apologise to Parliament…

Josh Groban Tony Watch Q&A: How Broadway’s Great Comet Landed On ‘Sweeney Todd’

Even longtime fans of singer Josh Groban could be forgiven some degree…

No survivors found after plane that flew over DC and led to fighter jet’s sonic boom crashes in Virginia

WASHINGTON (AP) — A wayward and unresponsive business plane that flew over…

Rep. Tim Burchett: Transparency needed on UAP sightings

The Tennessee Republican says the American public was “hosed” during a public…

OPEC Cut Could Lead To Higher Gas Prices In Florida

Source: TFP Gasoline prices continued decreasing in Florida last week, but the…

Florida couple kept 5-year-old in cage, forced another child to drink boiling water, deputies say

DELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida couple faces dozens of charges for…

St. Petersburg Police Warn Of Increase In Sextortion Cases

Source Unsplash ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) is…

‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’s Lord & Miller On Sequel’s “Down To The Wire” Journey To $209M WW Opening – Crew Call Podcast

After the massive weekend success of Sony Animation’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,…