Sen.
Josh Hawley
(R-MO) is planning to push for a
vote on a nationwide TikTok ban
sometime this week, possibly putting the Missouri Republican at odds with other GOP senators who want to advance their own legislation cracking down on the
Chinese-owned app
.
Hawley said he hopes to force a vote on his bill later this week, noting “this is the moment to act” after an “unbelievable” hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew before Congress last week,
according to
Punchbowl News.
GOP SENATOR CALLS ON LAWMAKERS TO STOP USING TIKTOK: ‘LEAD BY EXAMPLE’
The Missouri Republican introduced the No TikTok on United States Devices Act in late January, seeking to impose an outright ban on the social media app nationwide due to perceived national security risks. The legislation would also require U.S. national security officials to submit a report to Congress detailing any risks related to the app and its relationship with the Chinese Communist government.
It’s not yet clear how much support Hawley’s bill would have in the Senate, as lawmakers have become increasingly split on whether they’d back a TikTok ban.
A growing coalition of Democrats has come out against a TikTok ban, warning it could endanger lawmakers politically due to the app’s popularity among young voters — a crucial voting bloc for the Democratic Party. Several prominent Democrats boast large followings on the platform, including Reps. Jeff Jackson (D-NC) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
However, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who support a ban say it’s crucial for national security, pointing to Chinese laws that require companies to share user data with the country’s government. Those policies have come under intense scrutiny, with lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee pressing Chew on the app’s data collection practices during a hearing on Thursday.
Other lawmakers have proposed other measures to crack down on the app that wouldn’t necessarily enact a ban. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the RESTRICT Act, which would create a review process seeking to ban any foreign technology that is deemed to be a threat. The competing legislation could put Republicans at odds, possibly pushing a vote on either bill until after the Senate returns from recess in mid-April.
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The Biden administration has threatened action against the popular app, demanding its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest or have the platform banned. President Joe Biden already signed a bipartisan bill late last year banning the app from government-owned devices, and he has expressed support for legislation to regulate further or ban foreign platforms.
However, Biden himself has been in several of the app’s short videos, even as recent as St. Patrick’s Day, when he appeared alongside singer Niall Horan. When asked about the post last week, National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said the White House stands by its national security concerns.
