Proposed Legislation Aims to Compel ByteDance to Sell TikTok
In a bold move to protect national security, a group of bipartisan lawmakers has introduced a bill that could force ByteDance, the Chinese-owned parent company of the popular social media app TikTok, to divest its control in the United States. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, introduced by members of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), aims to ban TikTok unless ByteDance severs ties with the CCP.
The bill, sponsored by 19 members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, would utilize Title 10 of the United States Code to designate ByteDance as being under the control of a foreign adversary. This would effectively ban app stores from making TikTok available and prevent U.S.-based web hosting services from hosting applications created by ByteDance.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, one of the bill’s sponsors, expressed his concerns about a prominent media platform being controlled by America’s adversary. He stated, “TikTok’s time in the United States is over unless it ends its relationship with CCP-controlled ByteDance.” The legislation has gained support from both sides of the aisle, but its chances of passing the entire House remain uncertain. Previous attempts to address similar concerns about TikTok’s ownership have failed in previous congressional sessions.
Unsurprisingly, TikTok has strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it infringes upon free speech rights and unfairly singles out the company. A spokesperson for TikTok stated that the legislation is an “outright ban” that would harm millions of Americans and small businesses that rely on the platform for growth and job creation. The company believes that it is being unfairly targeted due to its Chinese ownership.
If the bill becomes law, it would create a process for the president to identify social media apps controlled by foreign adversaries as threats to national security and subsequently prohibit them. However, the legislation also provides ByteDance with an opportunity to divest from TikTok, allowing the company to sell the social media powerhouse to a non-China-based entity. In this case, the legislation would not impede the company’s products.
The concerns surrounding TikTok go beyond its ownership. Security and political risk experts have long warned about the potential for predatory surveillance practices, censorship, and the dissemination of state-backed propaganda through the platform. TikTok’s data collection practices have faced scrutiny, and the company has admitted to censoring content at the request of the CCP in the past, although it denies current involvement in such activities.
ByteDance’s deep ties to the CCP have raised eyebrows, and its leadership has openly expressed alignment with communist values. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, previously served as CFO for ByteDance and has actively brought former ByteDance executives on board at TikTok. Chew also held the position of CFO for Xiaomi, a Chinese company that faced sanctions from the Trump administration for aiding the CCP’s military.
While the fate of TikTok in the United States hangs in the balance, it is clear that concerns over national security and foreign influence in media platforms are at the forefront of this legislation. As lawmakers strive to protect American interests, the battle between free speech and security continues to unfold in the digital realm. Only time will tell if the proposed bill will become law and what implications it may have for other foreign-controlled applications operating within the United States.
