Senate GOP targets China in bill requiring app stores to show country of origin

Senate Republicans led by Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) are taking aim at China by proposing legislation that would require app stores to inform customers about where an app is developed and owned before users can download them.

Scott, the top GOP member on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, is introducing the "Know Your App Act" with Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford and Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the Senate Armed Services Committee's top Republican, as original cosponsors.

"Americans should be able to make informed decisions about the online services they use in order to protect their data and security," Scott, who announced his 2024 presidential bid last week, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. "Requiring app stores to display an app’s country of origin is a common-sense solution that can help them do just that."

The legislation would require the Treasury Department and the Commerce Department to create a list of adversarial governments that may have excessive control of the applications.

The bill would also require app stores to allow customers to filter applications from adversarial countries and issue warnings about the risks of downloading foreign apps from nations on the list.

If an app developer did not provide sufficient information about what countries it is affiliated with, the store would be required to issue several warnings. If the developer still does not comply, the app store would be required to remove the application.

The bill comes after findings that as of March 2023, four of the top five most popular free apps in the United States were developed in China, including TikTok, Shein, Temu and CapCut. All four apps are currently within the top 11 free apps internationally in Apple's App Store.

China's national security law allows the Chinese Communist Party to compel businesses based in China to turn over information and data to Chinese intelligence agencies. 

"Our adversaries will exploit every available tool, including popular apps that gather huge amounts of data on Americans, to gain an advantage over the United States," Wicker said. "It is crucial for users to take steps to limit their exposure and be made aware of the risks associated with using foreign-controlled apps."

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.