Restrict Act could jeopardize TikTok and much more

“threatening.”

In a poll conducted on the STAR’s Instagram account, students were asked if they supported the RESTRICT act or not. 72 votes, about 84% of the responses, were in disagreement with the bill, while 16%, were in agreement.

puter webcams, ring and home cameras, etc.

ELIAS KAPLAN STAFF WRITER

Does the government need to be focusing on how to ban TikTok when many of those concerned with it are farther removed from technology than some Sonoma State students’ parents?

Bill S.686 is known as the Restrict Act or the “TikTok Ban Bill.” This bill seems to be centered around TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, the Chinese technology firm that owns the app. However, it is about more than just TikTok, this is about the government wanting unlimited access to people’s devices and appliances whenever they want, based on what actions are deemed

The bill to ban TikTok is not only nonsense, but it is also terrifying. The bill covers hardware tech like modems, routers, home cameras and virtual technology like VPNs and bans them if they’re manufactured by whatever the nation considers being a “foreign adversary.” This bill also makes it a criminal act to use things like VPNs to access banned apps, like TikTok, to which one can be given 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of at least $250,000. On top of this, it allows the federal government to monitor activity on any of the devices listed, virtual or not. In other words, the government is allowed to monitor what you do in your home 24/7 without letting you know. This includes almost any internet device like video games, com-

In a recent hearing, TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, and his team were questioned by U.S. lawmakers. Most of the people in congressional positions are so out of touch with the current state of technology, that it doesn’t even make sense for them to be the ones asking questions regarding technological security.

For example, Congressman Richard Hudson of North Carolina asked the question, “Does TikTok access the home WiFi network… therefore letting it connect to other devices?” It’s unclear as to what is being asked in this question other than if TikTok uses the WiFi if accessible, which of course it would have to in order for the app to work.

When asked about the bill, Sonoma State student Devin Schulte said, “The older politicians who are trying to control and centralize the media by censoring it is outrageous… There’s so much going on in the world right now, and most of the political output is centered on trying to gain control of the youth and the youth’s opinion, but the thing is, they don’t understand the youth.”

Project Texas is TikTok’s plan to not get banned. Specifically, it would change TikTok in a way that allows the company to store U.S. user data under an American company, Oracle, which is based out of Austin, TX. Project Texas would act as a firewall, making sure that the Chinese government wouldn’t be able to access U.S. user data. The concern with another data breach event similar to what happened with Cambridge Analytica in March of 2018 is understandable. Data leaks can be catastrophic, however, if Project Texas is successful, there is no chance TikTok could make U.S. user data available to the Chinese Communist Party. It’s unlikely that the CCP is going to do anything with any user data, but it’s not impossible. The government is concerned with this makes sense, however, the way congress goes about discussing current technology is inaccurate and is nonsensical.

Too young? New Arkansas bill allows 14-year-olds to work

Arkansas, as Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Youth Hiring Act of 2023 into law on March 6. This law would allow children as young as 14 to work in Arkansas without having to get an employment certificate.

like to juggle school work with actual work on top of a social life but could a 14 year old be expected to do the same?

er options, it’s an easy answer.

Prior to child labor laws being passed many American children, some as young as 7 years old were subject to unsanitary and unsafe work conditions, long hours, very little pay and no education. Today, children are protected from such work environments and are required to be at least 16 years old to work in most cases, with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). However things might be changing in

There have been mixed feelings about this new law which some say is effectively rolling back child labor laws. While others think it’s a positive step forward arguing that the overall decision should be left to parents and not the government. The ones in support of the law also highlight that these children would still be restricted to a certain amount of hours and also not allowed to work certain jobs. While these statements are reassuring to hear it still wouldnt be in the best interest of the children to be working at such a young age. Most college students know what it’s

When asked about whether or not a 14 year old would be able to handle the responsibility of having a job, Karina Lopez a third year english major said, “I don’t think that most 14 year olds really have an idea of what hard work really is so I don’t know if they really would be able to…” It’s true that most kids that age probably wouldn’t have the maturity to take on a job but what if they had to in order to help out their struggling parents.

First-year Jonathan Bernal gave his thoughts, “If a child’s parents are struggling to make ends meet then they should be allowed to work as long as their parents approve.” Obviously not every parent wants their child to work but if they have no oth-

However, it would only be a temporary solution as Christopher Calvillo said, “It could be a slippery slope. What if they focus too much on work and not enough on school work.” A fair point, it would be difficult to get a child to focus on their homework if they just came home from a hard shift at work.

Even though the Youth Hiring Act of 2023 doesn’t force children to work in unsafe conditions for low wages and long hours it still feels to some degree like it might be turning back the clock on child labor laws that have already been passed. Children should be able to focus on being children without the stress of having a job while they still can. Trying to keep a job and study at such a young age would only bring unwelcomed stress to a developing child’s life.