TikTok Opponents Seek Warner’s Support as Congress Advances Ban

The bipartisan trio behind legislation that would ban TikTok in the U.S. will reintroduce the bill in 2023 and push hard for the support of Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner, D-Va., said Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., in an interview (see 2212130068). Congress included a provision in its must-pass omnibus spending bill that would ban the Chinese-owned social media app on federal devices, and several states have enacted government bans.

Warner has “talked very eloquently about the threat posed by TikTok -- he’s interested,” said Gallagher. “He’s waiting on the DOJ review, and that’s totally fair, so we’ll see what comes back from that,” along with findings from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS): “If we can get him on board, that would be big. We have to make the case.”

Gallagher introduced the Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act (Anti-Social CCP Act) with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Marco Rubio, R-Fla. The bill got praise from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr.

Warner on Friday welcomed an executive order from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) banning the use of TikTok and other Chinese-owned mobile apps on state-issued devices. Texas, Alabama, Maryland, Nebraska, South Dakota, South Carolina, Georgia, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Utah issued similar bans. Carr welcomed the executive order from Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R).

“TikTok has the stamp of approval of the Chinese Communist Party, and it poses a serious national security threat due to its data collection practices and its ability to reach and manipulate Americans,” Warner said of Virginia’s ban. “I hope to see more states take action to keep our government technology out of the CCP’s reach.”

Congress included legislation in its omnibus package from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., that would ban TikTok on federal devices. Last week, for the second year in a row, the Senate unanimously passed Hawley’s bill (see 2212150040). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., supported its inclusion in the omnibus package.

TikTok is “disappointed” with the bill’s inclusion, the company said in a statement Tuesday, calling it a “political gesture that will do nothing to advance national security interests.” Congress should instead encourage the administration to “conclude its national security review.” The agreement under review by CFIUS will “meaningfully address any security concerns that have been raised at both the federal and state level,” the company said. “These plans have been developed under the oversight of our country's top national security agencies -- plans that we are well underway in implementing -- to further secure our platform in the United States, and we will continue to brief lawmakers on them."

Republican states asked Apple and Google last week to update their age ratings for TikTok in their app stores. Signing the letters were attorneys general from Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia. TikTok is listed as suitable for users 12 and older on Apple’s App Store and for teens on the Google Play Store, they noted. Age ratings should be changed to 17 and older or “mature,” they said.

“Obviously there’s more interest on the Republican side than the Democrat side right now,” said Gallagher. “I don’t quite understand the hesitancy on the other side. Among some members, there’s a concern that this is a valuable way to reach young voters.” There’s a lack of understanding of the national security concerns, he said.