Why the TikTok Ban May Never Come
Recent scrutiny of TikTok’s Chinese ownership has led many to believe that the social media platform would face increased regulation, if not a complete ban. However, high-priced lobbying and political infighting have led to pessimism in the U.S. policy community. In fact, there is almost no chance that any significant action against the app will be taken in the current Congress.
TikTok has fought back against its critics, launching one of the largest lobbying campaigns in Washington, D.C. The company has spent at least $5.4 million in lobbying since last year and has expanded its lobbying efforts across the political spectrum.
Despite TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s rocky testimony before the House of Representatives, the platform has gained support from both political parties. For instance, Senator Rand Paul has attacked Republican proposals to ban the app as an attack on the First Amendment, while Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman has called the push to ban TikTok an example of “xenophobia around China.”
If any action is taken against TikTok, it will most likely need to start with bipartisan support in the Senate. However, the RESTRICT Act, which has received bipartisan support led by Mark Warner and John Thune, has been criticized for being too broad and not explicitly naming TikTok. The bill instead empowers regulators to ban any technology that poses undue risk to national security. Critics argue that this could delay action against TikTok for years.
It seems that a blanket ban of the app is unlikely. The White House has even embraced the platform, using it for its own campaigns and in the lead up to the 2024 election. This raises questions about whether the app is genuinely seen as a threat to national security. While TikTok has faced criticism for its Chinese ownership, it appears that the platform will continue to operate in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.
TikTok was not available for comment on the issue.
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