It appears that the Chinese Communist Party is actively engaging in hacking, spying, and surveillance of the United States and its citizens.
Examples of their surveillance capabilities are becoming more evident, from spy balloons to bans on Huawei products and the data collection by TikTok. These actions are driven by a malicious intent to harm and manipulate our nation.
Fortunately, Montana has been at the forefront of countering the CCP’s activities. Montana was the first state to ban TikTok, a move later replicated by the federal government. Additionally, Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill in May 2023 preventing the sale or lease of certain properties to foreign adversaries, particularly the CCP.
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Despite these efforts, Montanans may still be at risk from China’s increasing intrusion. Concerns have been raised about Temu, a new data-collecting app linked to the CCP.
Temu, a Chinese online retailer tied to the CCP, operates on millions of American phones, collecting personal data and accessing user information. Its actions mirror those of TikTok, posing a similar threat to American security.
Chinese companies under Beijing’s control, like Temu, are suspected of gathering data on foreign users for propaganda purposes, potentially harming U.S. interests.
Temu’s compliance with China’s National Intelligence Law gives Beijing access to sensitive U.S. data. Moreover, the app faced a malware scandal in 2023, leading to its removal from the Google Play Store.
With the backing of our federal representatives, Montanans can resist the CCP’s activities and protect themselves from threats like Temu.
Given the similarities between TikTok and Temu, urgent action is needed at the federal level to address this new threat.
Sen. Shelley Vance represents Senate District 34 in Bozeman. She carried the successful SB 419 in 2023 to ban TikTok in Montana.
