Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has raised concerns about the implications of ByteDance's connections with China's military-industrial complex. According to Rubio, the Chinese Communist Party utilizes ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to manipulate and spy on Americans through the popular social media platform.

Rubio highlighted that ByteDance is closely involved with China's security forces, with agreements in place to spread propaganda and enhance China's "national security matrix" through ByteDance's platforms. Additionally, ByteDance has been actively involved in developing artificial intelligence for China's armed forces, further blurring the lines between the company and the regime.

The Senator also pointed out that ByteDance's business partners include notorious human-rights offenders and military-linked companies in China, indicating a concerning network of associations. Rubio expressed worries about ByteDance manipulating TikTok's algorithm to influence user content, aligning with the Chinese Communist Party's objectives to control public opinion.

Rubio emphasized the significance of publicly available information that sheds light on ByteDance's ownership of American social media, urging a closer examination of the implications of these ties with China's military-industrial complex.