Mike Gallagher Criticizes TikTok Lobbying: Calls for Ban on Ex-U.S. Officials Lobbying for ‘Foreign Adversaries
Rep. Gallagher Denounces Ex-Officials Lobbying for TikTok’s Parent Company
In a compelling weekend interview, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) voiced his concerns over the involvement of former U.S. officials with ByteDance, the corporate parent of the popular social media platform TikTok, which falls under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
Exposing TikTok’s Lobbying Efforts
Speaking on CBS News’ “Face The Nation”, Gallagher unfolded the extensive lobbying efforts by ByteDance to derail U.S. legislative moves that could compel the company to divest TikTok.
“There is an unprecedented lobbying campaign, they’re really weaponizing the swamp against legislative action,” Gallagher expressed with discernible frustration. “Over half a million dollars spent last quarter alone on seven different lobbying firms. It’s disgusting. Former members of Congress lobbying on behalf of TikTok. By the way, that should be illegal. Members of Congress should not be allowed to lobby in general, let alone on behalf of foreign adversaries. Side note.”
The Battle Over TikTok’s Influence
Amidst the escalating debate, Gallagher emphasized the potential benefits to the user experience if TikTok were to change hands. He suggested that the platform’s contentious algorithm, notorious for shaping user perceptions and content curation, would likely be discarded by any new ownership, potentially making TikTok even more valuable.
- “The opaque algorithm influencing what information you see, that would go away. So, I imagine it would actually increase in value,” Gallagher proposed optimistically.
- He warned about the impending danger as elections approach, “The closer we get to an election, the risk just gets greater and greater.”
Gallagher pinpointed national security concerns, referencing an unclassified DNI report and intelligence community officials’ testimonies, labeling TikTok’s current ownership as a security threat. He reaffirmed the urgency of separating TikTok from ByteDance and the CCP to safeguard U.S. interests.
Related: Director Of National Intelligence Includes China’s TikTok Among Its Top Threats To National Security
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