Kara Swisher Talks TikTok Ban & National Security Fears

When TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress, he was grilled on whether the popular short-form video hosting app used by an estimated 150 million Americans has links to the Chinese government. The Biden administration and several members of Congress from both parties want to ban TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, claiming it threatens US national security. But is TikTok really a national security threat, or are these hearings just the latest example of the anti-China hysteria sweeping Washington?

To help us make sense of this, the Institute for Global Affairs’ Mark Hannah is joined by tech journalist and self-proclaimed national security junkie Kara Swisher. They break down the arguments for and against banning the app, get real about the threats coming from China, and discuss whether Kara would have been better suited for a career in military intelligence.

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This podcast episode includes references to the Eurasia Group Foundation, now known as the Institute for Global Affairs.