WASHINGTON, Jan 16: As a potential ban on TikTok looms in the United States, US senators have accused the platform, owned by the Chinese Communist Party, of meddling in elections in several countries, including India. A faction of lawmakers is advocating for an extension of the shutdown deadline.
In a discussion about TikTok, the legislators commended India’s decision to prohibit the platform, which is particularly popular with young users. According to a law signed by President Joe Biden a year ago, TikTok may be removed from US app stores unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., sells its American operations by Sunday, January 19.
“TikTok interferes in the political affairs of other nations by promoting divisive content in places like Israel, India, and of course, the United States. Additionally, TikTok collects extensive user data, including names, ages, email addresses, phone numbers, credit card details, biometric features, and viewing preferences,” Senator Tom Cotton stated on the Senate floor Wednesday.
“We have observed TikTok’s influence in elections globally, most recently in Romania where the European Commission has begun an investigation into TikTok’s failure to curb election interference, resulting in significant disruptions,” Senator Pete Ricketts noted.
“India banned TikTok for similar reasons, citing the influx of Chinese propaganda impacting their news media, which mirrors trends we see in America,” Ricketts remarked during his Senate address.
With 170 million TikTok users in the US, Senators Ron Wyden, Edward Markey, Cory Booker, and Congressman Ro Khanna, all Democrats, introduced bipartisan legislation to postpone the January 19 deadline by an additional 270 days, providing ByteDance more time to divest TikTok or face a ban.
“The hasty divestment of TikTok is an enormous advantage for Donald Trump and his associates, who stand to acquire a significant social media company and potentially turn it into a partisan platform,” Wyden claimed.
“By extending the deadline, Congress can explore more effective methods of addressing threats from China, allow the courts to review the law, and provide prospective buyers adequate time for public scrutiny regarding TikTok’s acquisition,” he added.
“Prohibiting TikTok infringes on the free speech rights of 170 million Americans and adversely impacts creators and small businesses that rely on the platform,” said Khanna. “We need legislation to safeguard Americans’ data, but banning TikTok is not the solution.”
“The decision to ban TikTok was rushed, without thorough consideration of its substantial impact on the millions of Americans who utilize the platform,” stated Senator Markey.
“Today, TikTok serves as a critical space for users during emergencies, like the Los Angeles wildfires, helping them earn income and build community in challenging times. The Extend the TikTok Deadline Act is a succinct bill aimed at granting Congress necessary time to fully evaluate the consequences of this ban,” he explained.
“Tens of millions of Americans utilize TikTok for entertainment, business, and social connections, myself included,” commented Senator Booker. “Citizens shouldn’t be denied the right to express themselves freely on their chosen platforms. While I believe ByteDance should divest from TikTok, they should be given ample time to facilitate a sale.”
Senators Markey and Rand Paul, along with Ro Khanna, recently filed a bipartisan amicus brief urging the US Supreme Court to overturn the DC Circuit Court’s ruling in TikTok Inc. v. Garland, which upheld the ban established under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
Incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in a recent interview hinted at a possible extension of the deadline. (PTI)
