Carr Joins European Officials to Promote Shared Infrastructure, National Security Goals
Meeting with E.U. Officials on Big Tech Contributing a Fair Share, TikTok’s Data Flows

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, September 26, 2022—FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is joining European regulators and leaders in Brussels today and tomorrow.  This morning, at a technology forum, Carr delivered keynote remarks on, one, the need for Big Tech to start contributing a fair share toward network builds and, two, the national security threats posed by TikTok.  Carr’s visit comes as E.U. officials are closely examining both of these issues.  Over the next two days, Carr will be meeting with regulators from the European Commission, European Parliament, and state regulatory bodies, as well as other stakeholders.

Commissioner Carr issued the following remarks:

“It is great to be back in Brussels at such a pivotal moment in the future of fast and secure communications networks.  On both sides of the Atlantic, our approaches to funding the buildout of high-speed networks have not changed since the screeching modem and dial-up Internet days of the 1990s.  They are no longer sustainable models for the massive levels of investment necessary to end the digital divide.  That is why I am pleased that both E.U. and U.S. officials are considering updated approaches that, while different in their particulars, would require Big Tech to start contributing a fair share.  After all, large technology companies benefit tremendously from these high-speed networks, and they generate the lion’s share of network traffic both in Europe and in the U.S.  I look forward to discussing these issues with my counterparts here and expanding the broad-based international support for fair contributions.  

“As networks expand, so too do the potential threats that proliferate online.  So I also appreciate the opportunity to discuss the national security threats posed by TikTok with European leaders.  Far from just another app for sharing funny videos or memes—that’s just the sheep’s clothing—TikTok functions as a sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data.  And recent reporting indicates that there is no check on this sensitive data being accessed from inside China.  So I agree with the security concerns already expressed by Members of the European Parliament, and I welcome the chance to discuss TikTok’s surreptitious data flows as well as the actions that stakeholders around the world should be taking.”
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Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr
Media Contact:  Danielle Thumann
(202) 418-0376 or danielle.thumann@fcc.gov