Bill Maher did not hesitate to share his views on the recent development after the U.S. House approved a bill that could potentially ban TikTok. During the latest episode of HBO’s Real Time, Maher humorously remarked, “China, you know what, you can make everything else that we use, but keeping our kids terrible, that’s our job.”
The bill, which garnered a 352-65 vote in the House, raises concerns about the possible global restrictions on TikTok if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, fails to divest it. The ownership structure of the company is a focal point for some lawmakers due to national security implications. President Joe Biden has indicated his willingness to sign the bill if it passes the Senate.
In a subsequent discussion on Real Time with Republican Rep. Nancy Mace and Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna, Maher reiterated his belief that there are more critical issues in the country than TikTok. Despite the significant support for the bill in Congress, opposition has come from various political figures across the spectrum.
The debate touched on the fundamental principles of the First Amendment and free speech, with Khanna highlighting the need for a focus on broader issues such as data privacy legislation. Mace emphasized the constitutional aspects, stating that it is not within the government’s purview to ban software applications.
Maher pivoted the conversation towards artificial intelligence (AI), expressing greater concern about its implications than the TikTok ban. He underscored the potential risks associated with AI, citing predictions of trillionaire AI entrepreneurs and warnings of existential threats from the U.S. State Department.
The discussion expanded to include the impact of AI on various sectors, referencing recent strikes in the entertainment industry and highlighting the ongoing debates about job displacement. The episode also featured a one-on-one interview with Eric Holder, the former U.S. Attorney General.
