Ft Wayne Times

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04) took a stand to protect Americans from foreign influence by voting in favor of H.R. 7521, a legislative measure aimed at safeguarding the country against the influence of Communist China and other adversaries like North Korea through social media applications such as TikTok.

In a statement following his vote, Rep. Baird emphasized the importance of preventing Communist China from manipulating the American people, particularly through platforms like TikTok. He stated, “Communist China cannot have free rein to push its agenda on the American people and manipulate our children.” Rep. Baird highlighted the significant impact that apps like TikTok have on public discourse in the United States, asserting that they should not be controlled by adversarial nations.

The legislation supported by Rep. Baird does not entail an outright ban on TikTok. Instead, it mandates that social media companies divest ownership from countries like Communist China and North Korea if they wish to operate in the U.S. Rep. Baird clarified, “This legislation is not an outright ban. Instead, it allows TikTok’s parent company to sell the app to an organization that is not affiliated with our adversaries before any action is taken.”

By voting in favor of H.R. 7521, Rep. Baird has shown his commitment to protecting American interests and ensuring that the country remains resilient against potential threats posed by foreign adversaries through social media platforms.