Tag: technology

GOP Lawmakers Hawley, Buck Introduce Bills to Ban TikTok From All US Devices

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Jan. 25 introduced the “No TikTok on United States Devices Act” to prohibit the Chinese-based app from being downloaded on all U.S. devices and ban commercial transactions with ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) has introduced a companion legislation in the House. In recent months, more than half…


Governments Warned Chinese Cellular Chips Pose Next Biggest Threat

Using data collected in microchips, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could monitor activities all over the world in people’s homes as well as weapons deployment, a report warned. The report (pdf), written by British China researcher and former diplomat Charles Parton for Washington-based consultancy OODA, called on free and open countries to ban Chinese-manufactured IoT modules…


Sen. Josh Hawley to Introduce Bill Banning TikTok From US

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is introducing legislation to ban social media app TikTok from distribution in the United States. Hawley announced the bill on Twitter early Jan. 24, saying that the app gives China’s communist regime a means of violating the privacy of Americans, including children. “TikTok is China’s backdoor into Americans’ lives,” Hawley said….


FBI Chief Says China Stole Sensitive Data for Use in AI Program

The Chinese regime has the largest hacking program in the world, and its artificial intelligence program is built on sensitive data the regime stole over the years, FBI Director Christopher Wray said on Thursday. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wray warned of the cybersecurity threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party’s…


Maine Joins 28 US States Banning TikTok From Government Devices

Maine has become the latest state to ban TikTok from state-owned devices that connect to the government network. The video-sharing app is owned and operated by ByteDance, which is a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020. More than 28 U.S. states and the federal government have banned the popular app from state-owned devices….


CEO of Major Airline Warns of More Travel Disruptions as Carriers Struggle With Pilot Shortages, Outdated Tech

The CEO of United Airlines warned on Jan. 18 that outdated technology and a shortage of pilots and workers could see other airlines canceling and delaying flights for passengers this year. CEO Scott Kirby made the comments during a call with analysts and reporters to discuss the company’s fourth-quarter financial results. The CEO said that airlines that…


Major Texas University Blocks Students From Using TikTok on Network

The University of Texas at Austin has banned students from using Chinese-owned TikTok on its Wi-Fi network, in line with Gov. Greg Abbott’s December directive that all state agencies eliminate the cybersecurity risks posed by the video-sharing app. In a message to students on Jan. 17, Jeff Neyland, adviser to the university’s president for technology strategy, said the school is…


US Government Seeks to Outlaw TikTok but Faces Obstacles

President Joe Biden signed legislation in December banning federal employees from using TikTok on government devices due to national security threats. And more than 25 states have taken measures against the popular app, either by prohibiting its usage on government devices or filing litigation. Some believe that these measures are good, but not enough. They…


US, Taiwan Hold Formal Bilateral Trade Negotiations

A U.S. delegation is in Taiwan for the first formal negotiations over the text of a trade agreement, following an initial round of talks in November 2022. The effort is aimed at pushing back against China’s bid to create a regional sphere of influence and become the world’s most influential power, according to a previous…


State Governments ‘Weakest Link’ in Protecting America From ‘Enemy’ Cyberattacks

United States federal agencies and the Pentagon over the last decade have imposed a matrix of restrictions on purchasing technology from companies owned or influenced by China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but few of the nation’s 50 states have taken similar precautions. In fact, many state governments apparently aren’t aware—or haven’t publicly acknowledged—how potentially…