Backlash after TikTok directs users to call Congress to oppose app security bill

Mar 08, 2024

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

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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.

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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.

Tags: ByteDance, China, National Security, TikTok, U.S. Congress, User data

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A CAMPAIGN BY TIKTOK TO CALL ON USERS TO CONTACT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS – APPEARS TO HAVE BACKFIRED.
HERE’S WHAT’S GOING ON:

THERE’S A NEW PUSH IN WASHINGTON THAT COULD IMPACT THE APP – POTENTIALLY BANNING IT.

LAWMAKERS ARE AIMING TO GO AFTER TIKTOK’S PARENT COMPANY.
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE ARE PUSHING A BILL THAT WOULD FORCE BYTEDANCE, TO SELL THE APP.

THE MOVE COMES AMID CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USER DATA COLLECTED BY TIKTOK.

THE BILL HAS SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT – WITH UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FROM THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE.

NOW THE BILL HEADS TO THE FULL HOUSE AND COULD BE VOTED ON AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

IN RESPONSE- TIKTOK LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN WITHIN THE APP, WARNING USERS OF A POTENTIAL BAN THAT COULD HARM BUSINESSES AND CREATORS. THE APP DIRECTED USERS TO CONTACT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THE BILL.

CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES WERE OVERWHELMED WITH CALLS.

THE AUTHORS OF THE BILL RESPONDED FURIOUSLY – CALLING IT A “MASSIVE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN,” EMPHASIZING TIKTOK WOULD NOT BE BANNED IF BYTEDANCE DIVESTS ITS OWNERSHIP.

LAWMAKERS SAY TIKTOK IS MISLEADING USERS BY CALLING IT A BAN.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS SIGNALED SUPPORT FOR THE BILL WHILE ALSO ENGAGING WITH TIKTOK. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS EVEN USED THE PLATFORM AS PART OF HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

NOW THIS ISN’T THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS SECURITY CONCERNS SURROUNDING TIKTOK. SIMILAR naEFFORTS WERE MADE UNDER THE TRUMP