QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Social Media
March 22, 2023
My question is for the proud Government Representative in the Senate.
Leader, on February 27, the government announced with great fanfare that TikTok, the Chinese social media platform, was being banned from government devices. We all quickly removed it from our devices because of the risks it could pose.
Again, looking through the lens of Chinese interference, imagine my surprise when I learned today that the Privy Council Office has invested millions of dollars in advertising on the Chinese social network platform.
How can the government, on the one hand, encourage Canadians to stop using TikTok and then, on the other hand, invest millions of dollars in government advertising?
If I understand your question correctly, and if I understand the government’s decision to pull the app, it is for national security reasons. There have been concerns that TikTok can capture user data. There are fears that TikTok is sharing data.
I don’t know the details as to how much money was invested in advertising, when it was done or why it was done. I will inquire and give you an answer.
Leader, do you feel a little less proud when you see taxpayers’ money being invested in the Chinese social media platform TikTok to be able to gather data, especially from our young teens? Do you not see an incongruity here?
I listened to your response to the Leader of the Opposition earlier and your response now, and I see a disconnect between what you’re saying and what the government is doing. There is a growing recognition of the need for a public inquiry into Chinese interference.
Once again, colleague, I don’t know the details of the expenses you mentioned. This is the first I’m hearing of this. I’ll have to find out more before I can give you an honest and appropriate answer.
