A Newsweek investigation found that several U.S. House representatives who voted in favor of a bill that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States still have verified accounts on the Chinese social media platform. The bill, which passed in the House with a vote of 352-65, aims to force TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the company within six months or face a ban due to privacy concerns and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. ByteDance has denied these allegations and argues that the bill would essentially amount to a ban on the app, raising freedom of speech concerns.
Despite claims from some representatives that the bill is not a ban, a spokesperson for TikTok disagrees and believes it is a ban disguised as divestiture. The bill has not yet received Senate approval, and it is unclear whether ByteDance, if compelled to sell, would sell the entire company or just the U.S. operations. If compliance does not happen, and legal challenges do not alter the bill, TikTok may no longer be available on U.S. app stores. Newsweek found that 12 representatives who voted for the bill still have active accounts on TikTok, with some continuing to post content.
Some of these representatives responded to Newsweek’s inquiries, with many arguing that the goal of the bill is to protect national security and not to outright ban TikTok. Rep. Adam Schiff stated that divestiture is the best option to address privacy and national security risks posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Rep. Landsman emphasized that the bill aims to eliminate threats to national security and families by forcing the sale of the platform away from foreign adversaries like China. Other representatives highlighted the importance of safeguarding freedom of speech and national security from potential foreign interference through platforms like TikTok.
In addition to the verified accounts, Newsweek also identified imposter accounts for several lawmakers who approved the TikTok bill. However, it is unclear whether these accounts actually belong to the representatives, as they have not been confirmed. President Joe Biden has expressed support for the bill and indicated that he would sign it if it passes the Senate. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, who opposes the bill, has raised concerns about its constitutionality and is advocating for careful consideration and potential alterations before moving forward with the vote. The timeline for the Senate vote and the fate of the bill remain uncertain.
