Cotton says Trump is right to consider TikTok ban, argues it's a 'threat' to privacy

Sen. Tom Cotton agreed Wednesday with President Trump's consideration of a ban on the use of the mobile app TikTok in the U.S., amid concerns the China-based owners of the short-video app could be collecting personal data from subscribers. 

"I have long said that TikTok poses a threat to the privacy and perhaps the security of Americans. I urged the Department of Defense some time ago, to prohibit the use of Tick Tock on our young soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, devices and so that threat is not limited to our service members," Cotton, a Republican an Army veteran, said on a conference call organized by Trump's re-election campaign.  

"It may be heightened for them, but it's not limited," he continued. "So I would certainly encourage every parent to consider whether or not they should let their kids put TikTok on their devices. And I think President Trump is taking appropriate steps to evaluate whether we should even allow it to be used in this country."

Cotton, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, noted that TikTok is banned in India.

"India, the world's largest democracy and a good friend of ours, just prohibited TikTok and several other apps ... because there really is no such thing as a private company that has the ability to protect your personal information inside of China. I think all Americans should be worried about Chinese based apps like TikTok," he said.

Trump said Tuesday that his administration was considering a ban on TikTok.

“It’s something we’re looking at, yes,” Trump said. “It’s a big business. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what they’ve done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful.”

The federal government is currently investigating whether TikTok is sharing information about its users with the communist Chinese government.