US legislators are deliberating on potential modifications to a bill that would give the Biden administration the power to ban TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media platform. This revelation came from Democratic Senator Mark Warner, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and co-sponsor of the legislation, who disclosed that TikTok's aggressive lobbying against the bill has slowed its progress since its introduction in March.
According to Warner, lawmakers have proposed a series of amendments to the Restrict Act, addressing critiques such as the potential impact on individual American citizens and the broad expansion of government power. The bill, backed by the White House, would empower the Commerce Department to scrutinize, block, and address any transaction involving foreign information and communication technology that presents a national security risk. Warner recognized TikTok's successful lobbying, which he claimed cost the company $100 million and slowed the bill's momentum.
The bill was introduced following the Biden administration's demand in March for TikTok's Chinese owners, ByteDance, to divest their stakes or face a ban in the US. This move echoed attempts by former President Donald Trump to ban TikTok, which were thwarted by US courts. Despite the bill's setback, Warner claimed there are ongoing discussions about it, including the possibility of it being attached to an annual defense bill or forming part of a China-related bill sought by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Warner emphasized the urgent need for such legislation, citing the emergence of three or four other Chinese-controlled apps. He asserted the need for a fair, rules-based process to manage these concerns, rather than addressing them on a case-by-case basis. TikTok, with over 150 million American users, has invested more than $1.5 billion in robust data security measures and continues to refute allegations of espionage.
The social media giant is currently resisting a ban by the state of Montana, which is set to take effect on January 1. A hearing on TikTok's appeal is scheduled for October 12. The proposed US legislation and the potential impact of its amendments underscore the ongoing concerns around data security with foreign-owned social media platforms and the measures being taken to address these issues.