TikTok, AI, and the Future of U.S. Tech Policy: Jake Morabito on NewsTalkSTL
Rather than imposing sweeping new AI laws, a better fix is using the existing frameworks that we've had for hundreds of years.
As debates over TikTok’s ownership and artificial intelligence (AI) regulation continue, conservatives face a complex challenge: balancing free-market principles with national security concerns. Jake Morabito, ALEC Senior Director of the Communications and Technology Task Force, discussed these issues and the implications for policymakers with NewsTalkSTL hosts Tim Jones and Chris Arps.
TikTok and National Security
The ongoing controversy surrounding TikTok centers on its parent company, ByteDance, and its ties to China. Morabito acknowledged that conservatives typically oppose government intervention in private businesses but highlighted the unique risks associated with TikTok’s ownership.
“Some elected officials in our government and around the world have expressed concern that if the Chinese Communist Party can access our sensitive data and systems, what does that mean for national security?” Morabito explained.
This concern ultimately led Congress and President Biden to enact a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-foreign adversary or face a ban in the U.S. President Trump extended the deadline for a sale by 75 days, allowing time for potential U.S. buyers to emerge.
China’s AI Developments and Market Competition
The conversation also touched on China’s growing AI capabilities. Morabito expressed skepticism about reports that Chinese firms such as DeepSeek and Alibaba had developed AI models comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT for a fraction of the cost.
“You’re right to be skeptical,” Morabito told host Chris Arps. “U.S. companies like OpenAI and Google are spending hundreds of millions to develop these tools. Even if DeepSeek’s claims are somewhat accurate, it’s a wake-up call for American firms to stay competitive.”
He also cautioned against heavy-handed AI regulation, citing the 700 AI-related bills introduced in the U.S. last year.
“What would instead be best, is to just let our companies have the freedom to create and innovate to build the world’s best tools so that we can be keep pace with China and not let foreign countries beat us at our own game in this technology.” he argued.
A Measured Approach to AI Regulation
As state legislatures across the country consider AI-related bills, Morabito urged lawmakers to take a cautious, fact-based approach.
“Rather than imposing sweeping new AI laws, a better fix is using the existing frameworks that we’ve had for hundreds of years in existing case law. Some states, like Missouri are taking small steps to update their laws,” he noted.
While acknowledging the uncertainties surrounding AI’s future, Morabito dismissed apocalyptic scenarios.
“We don’t know what these models will look like in 10 or 50 years, and we still need to do some understanding about what exactly the ramifications of this technology. However stifling innovation now at this early stage could cost us billions or even trillions in economic value.”
As AI and digital platforms continue to reshape society, Morabito and ALEC highlight policies that could protect national security and public safety while fostering technological innovation. With TikTok’s fate still uncertain and AI advancing rapidly, the challenge for policymakers is to strike the right balance between regulation and economic growth.