Former Vice President Mike Pence is leading a campaign to pass a bill that would require popular social media app TikTok to cut ties with China, citing national security concerns. Pence is concerned that presidential politics may delay or hinder the bill’s progress ahead of the November election. The bill, introduced by House China Select Committee Chair Mike Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 352-65 but has faced delays in the Senate. Pence’s organization, Advancing American Freedom, has launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to pressure key senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, to expedite the legislation.
Pence highlighted the privacy and national security risks posed by TikTok’s connection to China, stating that the app could potentially collect data on millions of Americans for exploitation by the Chinese Communist Party. He emphasized the urgency of addressing these threats and warned against further delays in passing the bill. Despite concerns about potential lobbying efforts influencing the bill’s trajectory in the Senate, Pence expressed confidence in the Commerce Committee chair, Maria Cantwell, and her staff’s openness to constructive dialogue on the matter. He noted that Cantwell’s team had been engaging positively in discussions regarding the bill’s path in the Senate.
While there is no clear timeline for the legislation in the Senate, some senators have expressed optimism about the bill’s potential passage given its national security implications. However, others, like Sen. Josh Hawley, have criticized outside lobbying efforts that they believe may be influencing the bill’s progress. Hawley accused those attempting to move the bill to committee of trying to undermine its chances of passing, suggesting that there was an agenda to protect the interests of big tech companies. Despite these challenges, Cantwell has signaled her commitment to holding public hearings and a markup on the proposed bill, indicating a willingness to consider the legislation through regular congressional processes.
Pence’s campaign to address TikTok’s ties to China comes amid growing concerns about national security threats posed by foreign-controlled technology companies. TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data collection practices and its potential links to the Chinese Communist Party, raising alarm bells among policymakers and intelligence officials. The bipartisan effort to push TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, reflects broader efforts to protect American users’ data and privacy from foreign adversaries. As the bill moves through the legislative process, stakeholders will continue to advocate for swift action to address the risks associated with TikTok’s operations in the United States.
The ad campaign launched by Advancing American Freedom underscores the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing national security challenges, particularly in the tech industry. By mobilizing public support and pressuring lawmakers to prioritize the bill, Pence aims to ensure that concerns about TikTok’s ties to China are swiftly addressed before the November elections. The outcome of this legislative effort will not only impact TikTok’s future in the U.S. but also set a precedent for how policymakers address similar national security issues related to emerging technologies. As debates continue in the Senate, stakeholders will closely monitor the progress of the bill and the broader implications for data privacy and national security in the digital age.
