Chair Rodgers: The CCP Cannot Be Trusted to Safeguard Our Data & Uphold American Values

Congressional lawmakers are taking aim at Tik Tok and other social media companies accused of collecting and selling user data with foreign powers the house Energy and Commerce Committee is discussing two resolutions later today that would Target data Brokers and ban apps controlled by Foreign adversaries like China those bills have garnered bipartisan support in the house with both Democrats and Republicans calling for a Crackdown on largely unregulated social media companies joining us now house Energy and Commerce Committee chair congresswoman Kathy McMorris Rogers congresswoman it's good to have you this morning thanks for joining thank you very much it's great to be with you I was thinking about our interview and I said you know what she must just go to sleep at night dreaming of a world without tick talk you know I mean how big of a risk does it actually pose to the average American user uh well this the action that we're taking today is based upon National Security threats by by by apps like Tik Tok that are controlled by our foreign adversaries like China and this is a very real threat we know that Tik Tok has repeatedly been caught in a lie that it is not controlled by the Chinese Communist party we know that they have used their data to the their surveillance and the data that they've collected against American journalists and that's being uh brought action by the the justice department right now we know from internal recordings at Tik Tok that we that they say that everything that they collect is seen by China and so this is this is to protect Americans from the Chinese Communist Party surveilling collecting targeting and manipulating American user data uh we believe that this is a national security threat and that's why the legislation has garnered the bipartisan support and we're taking action today to protect Americans and when you talk about that collected data Congressman I mean give us some concrete examples and how it would keep us safe because I imagine there are a lot of people watching this right now saying well you know I don't really think I have anything to to hide from China what what do you tell them well we're talking about American user data so this is this is data that they they use they they collect it they target they surveil uh this would be your location data this would be your search uh history and even if you don't even have Tik Tok on your phone it it doesn't mean that they aren't accessing your data and we know that this is how the Chinese Communist Party treats their own citizens and they cannot be trusted they cannot be trusted to safeguard our data or uphold our American values so this is this is legislation is very targeted against uh foreign adversaries like China to protect uh Americans and and Tick Tock Tik Tock has said that this is a ban it really is their choice as to whether or not they divest from bite dance that is controlled by the Chinese Communist party or if they decide to operate separately in the United States and and do it under our laws yeah I I know this isn't the first attempt at Banning Tik Tok here in the United States so we'll be following today closely where it all goes from here lastly before I let you go you know I know you're elected uh to Congress back in 2004 you're not running for reelection I'm just curious it must be Bittersweet what are you going to miss the most you know it it's just been um an amazing journey for me a farm kid from Kettle Falls to to represent the great people of Eastern Washington for the last 20 years and I'm really going to me miss the people I've just incredible people I've been inspired every day by the people of Eastern Washington and the people that I serve alongside here in the House of Representatives I believe in representative government and I believe that this uh this great experiment in self-governance is very important so it's just been such an honor for me to represent the people and I'm gonna miss them the most yeah what about the sparring though I mean this year has been like unlike any other is there part of you that's also ready to to to kind of leave it all behind well you know I have I've had the the privilege of chairing the house Energy and Commerce Committee it's an extraordinary committee and we've been able to lead on not issues just not just around privacy and protecting people online but also on Energy Solutions American Energy Independence uh We've LED on price transparency and health care so we've been doing important work and I'm proud of the work that we have done on behalf of the people and it's just been a it's just really been a privilege to be able to serve yeah I'm sure you'll miss all the the pesky questions from journalists like myself too uh one Rogers we know it's not over just yet but I just wanted to take the time to to pick your brain on how you were feeling thank you for joining me right here on morning in America good to be with you yeah it's been a pleasure