Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson recently called attention to some alarming provisions hidden in proposed legislation to ban TikTok. This legislation called the Restrict Act, was introduced by Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia and Republican John Thune of South Dakota with the stated goal of protecting national security and preventing foreign interference in U.S. elections through apps like TikTok.
However, Carlson argues that this legislation is not really about TikTok at all. Instead, the bill would give unprecedented power to the federal government to regulate how American citizens communicate with one another.
One section of the bill would regulate “certain transactions between persons in the United States and foreign adversaries,” which is defined as “any acquisition, importation, transfer, installation, dealing in or use of any information and communications technology, product or service, including ongoing activities such as mandated services, data transmission, software updates, repairs, or the provision of data hosting services.”
This means that if the Biden administration decides that an American citizen is involved in such transactions, the secretary of commerce can enforce “any mitigation measure to address any risk arising from any covered transaction with any person or with respect to any property subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”
The bill to ban TikTok is absolutely terrifying. It gives the government the ability to go after anyone they deem as a national security risk at which point they can access everything from their computer to video games to their ring light.
This is a Patriot Act for the internet. pic.twitter.com/uYea49F1b1
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 28, 2023
These covered transactions can involve “current past or potential future transactions,” and the mitigation measures include throwing American citizens in prison for 20 years and fines of up to $1 million.
“So, you would be allowing the executive branch, the Biden administration, to regulate speech on the Internet and if you are somehow involved with a ‘foreign adversary’ or let’s say you oppose the war against Russia, you’re going to prison for 20 years,” Carlson warned. “So, this isn’t about banning TikTok. This is about introducing flat-out totalitarianism into our system.”
WATCH the video below for more details:
The proposed legislation has sparked concern on social media and beyond, with many worried about the scope of powers that the bill would grant to the Biden administration. Carlson’s comments serve as a stark reminder that even well-intentioned legislation can have unintended consequences and that Americans must remain vigilant in protecting their freedoms and constitutional rights.
The government should not be given unchecked power to surveil and punish citizens without due process or legitimate cause. It is up to all Americans to speak out against such overreach and defend the principles of democracy and individual liberty.
WATCH:
Source: TheBeltwayReport
