Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) Defends TikTok, Rejects “Fearmongering” and Argues for Platform’s Protection in the U.S.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) has become one of the most vocal supporters of TikTok in Congress, criticizing a bipartisan effort to ban the app. On Tuesday, Bowman defended the platform in an interview, rejecting arguments about its dangers as “fearmongering” and saying he hasn’t seen evidence that China is using it for espionage.

Bowman is scheduled to host a press conference Wednesday at the Capitol alongside dozens of TikTok content creators to make the case for protecting the app in the U.S. The Chinese-owned platform has 150 million American users, yet has had virtually no allies on Capitol Hill to fight back against the growing movement to ban it.

Bowman argued that he hasn’t seen any hard evidence that TikTok is committing some form of espionage. He also noted that the platform provides a space for content creators to share their ideas, inspirations, thoughts, and voices.

The Chinese government’s national security law states that Chinese companies or those operating within the country could be required to share their data with the government. This has raised concerns that the platform could constitute a national security threat for Americans.

TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer is expected to testify before a House panel this week. It remains to be seen how the hearing will affect the debate over the app’s future in the U.S. and whether Bowman’s support will be enough to sway the conversation.