Lawmakers are pressing the National Guard Bureau for answers about its service members’ use of TikTok after an Air National Guardsman cut ads for the China-founded app that is fighting against efforts to ban the platform in the U.S.
Jon Lynch identified himself as a New Hampshire National Guardsman on his TikTok account where he publishes videos that share information about benefits for a U.S. military service-member audience.
“My name is Jon Lynch, I’m a member of the National Guard,” Mr. Lynch said in one 15-second ad published by TikTok. “I use my TikTok channel to benefit military members and their families. If my platform was taken away, it’d be devastating.” The ads have sparked outrage from two Republican federal lawmakers who are worried about Chinese influence operations in the U.S. and are seeking to ensure the implementation of a law that President Biden signed last year banning TikTok from federal government devices.
“Not only does TikTok play a leading role in manipulating American citizens’ perceptions of China generally, but influence operations like this could directly undermine the National Guard’s ability to mobilize in crisis or conflict,” Mr. Hawley and Ms. Stefanik wrote. “Additionally, TikTok’s data collection could pose threats to the operational security of National Guard operations.”
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