on their personal devices to create videos for use
in TSA’s social media outreach, but that practice
has since been discontinued.”
In his letter, Schumer said national security
experts have raised concerns about TikTok’s
collection and handling of user data and
personal information, locations and other
content. He also noted in the letter that Chinese
laws compel companies to cooperate with
China’s government and intelligence collection.
“Given the widely reported threats, the
already-in-place agency bans, and the existing
concerns posed by TikTok, the feds cannot
continue to allow the TSA’s use of the platform
to fly,” Schumer said in a statement to The
Associated Press.
Over the past few months, the agency has
posted a number of videos reshared on other
social media platforms such as Twitter, which
have amassed hundreds of thousands of views.
The agency said it never directed viewers to
TikTok or published content directly to the
platform, despite videos reposted on other TSA
social media accounts having the TikTok logo
in the bottom of the screen. The agency said it
had an “active and award-winning presence on
several social media platforms.”
Some of the videos are musical parodies
about what can and cannot be brought on
an aircraft, while others advertise services like
TSA’s expedited screening program known
as PreCheck. In one of the videos, a TSA
spokeswoman with Nutella spread on her face is
showing different containers of the chocolate-
hazelnut spread to detail which one can be
brought in carry-on luggage.