Addressing Terror Threats Associated with Foreign, Cloud-Based Apps Like TikTok

More than 20 years after 9/11, the advent of cloud-based technology has given terrorist groups even more tools to use in their pursuit of deadly chaos. 

As the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, I introduced a bipartisan bill this week with Rep. Jimmy Panetta of California that requires the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats posed to the United States by terrorist organizations utilizing foreign, cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging applications.

Foreign-controlled apps like TikTok and encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram have shined a disturbing light on the extreme lengths America’s enemies will go to attack our way of life and radicalize young minds with violent extremist ideology, as well as the terrifying potency of their grotesque messages when disseminated on platforms with almost unlimited reach. 

Considering the heightened threat landscape created by terrorist organizations around the world, especially as we saw just last October with the devastating terrorist attack in Israel, DHS must take steps to assess and address this threat before it’s too late. Read more about the bill here.