Sessions Offers Rationale for Voting in Favor of TikTok Ban

Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) joined the majority of Republicans in voting for H.R. 7521 – Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Introduced by Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI), H.R. 7521 will prohibit the “distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for a foreign adversary controlled application (e.g., TikTok).”

The bill will shut down TikTok in the United States if ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, doesn’t divest from the application 165 days after the bill’s passage, according to Fox News.

It would also require a non-foreign adversary to purchase TikTok if it wants to remain in operation in the United States.

Rep. Sessions believes the TikTok has been used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to spy on Americans and their data.

“One of Congress’ foremost duties is to protect the national security of the United States. The Chinese Communist Party is using TikTok to spy on Americans and indoctrinate our children,” said Rep. Sessions. “They should not be permitted to have a backdoor into American’s phones, data, and personal information.”

The Texas congressman concluded, “I am proud to have supported H.R. 7521 as a crucial step in protecting Americans from foreign interference and manipulation.”

The majority of Republicans voted for the measure. However, other Republicans feel the bill could go too far in allowing the Executive Branch more power to ban websites, apps, or internet entities due to ambiguous language in the legislation.

Congressman Greg Steube (R-FL) provided a lengthy thread of his own with a rationale for why TikTok is a “dangerous app,” while simultaneously not being super thrilled with the bill’s contents.

“There is no doubt about it: TikTok is a dangerous app controlled by Chinese interests. However, that does not mean the bill in front of the House today is the appropriate solution to the national security threat TikTok imposes. I’ve read the bill and am extremely concerned its text could be weaponized against conservatives and social media sites like X and Truth Social … ‘Controlled by a foreign adversary’ is defined in section 2(g)(1). In subsection (C), things get really problematic. It says that ‘controlled by a foreign adversary’ can also include ‘a person subject to the direction or control of a foreign person or entity.’”

Rep. Steube continued, “If subjection (C) was removed from this bill, I would be supportive of this bill. But the fact is, this bill gives tremendous leeway to the executive branch to determine what this phrase means, and ambiguity in the law opens the door to abuse. It goes beyond TikTok and foreign adversaries. It has the potential to affect American owned companies.”

 

 

The legislation needed two-thirds support to advance from the lower chamber. It passed with a 352-65 tally. The Senate will need to pass the measure to send it to the President’s desk.

This is a developing story.