A campaign by TikTok that is urging users to contact their representatives in Congress appears to have backfired amid a new push in Washington that could impact the app and potential lead to its ban. Lawmakers are targeting TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, with members of the House advancing a bill that would compel ByteDance to divest the app.
This move stems from concerns regarding potential national security risks associated with user data collected by TikTok. The bipartisan bill has received unanimous approval from the Energy and Commerce Committee and is now set to proceed to the full House for a vote, possibly as soon as the week of March 11.
In response, TikTok launched an in-app campaign warning users of the potential ban and directing them to contact their congressional representatives to oppose the bill.
Congressional offices were inundated with calls, prompting furious reactions from lawmakers, who labeled it a “massive propaganda campaign.” They emphasized that TikTok would not face a ban if ByteDance divests its ownership. Lawmakers accused TikTok of misleading users by characterizing it as a ban.
The Biden administration has signaled support for the bill while also engaging with TikTok. President Biden has been utilizing the platform as part of his reelection campaign.
This isn’t the first attempt to address security concerns surrounding TikTok; similar efforts were made under the Trump administration.
The outcome of the bill and how the president addresses these concerns remain uncertain.
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