Several Democratic lawmakers have expressed hesitation about a bill that would ban TikTok in the U.S. unless it is sold from its Chinese parent company, but former staffers are lobbying on behalf of the app.
Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state are all among the foreign states seeking to force the popular social media platform TikTok to withdraw its operations. He has expressed a desire to move slowly on legislation that would protect Americans from regulatory applications by their adversaries. Parent companies with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be banned in the United States. However, while the senators themselves received campaign contributions from TikTok lobbyists, former high-ranking officials from each senator’s office lobbied on behalf of the app.
law woke up Concerns that ByteDance, the China-based tech company that owns TikTok and is aligned with the Chinese Communist Party, could use the app to spy on Americans or threaten national security. Body. ByteDance is reportedly using the app to monitor American journalists and track communications surrounding the origins of the coronavirus. (Related: Experts back bill to force Chinese parent company to offload TikTok)
Murray expressed skepticism about the bill, which passed the House with bipartisan support in March, saying it would “certainly consider the merits of alternatives that systematically address the larger issues at hand.” “We want to do that, not by singling out one company, but while protecting civil liberties.” according to In the Seattle Times.
“We would like to hear from more experts and further discuss some of the different proposals,” she says. Said said in a statement to local news outlets.
Washington’s other senator, Cantwell, is also skeptical of the TikTok bill and has indicated he would not support it in its current form.
“We were trying to do something a little more robust and long-term, but we wanted to look at this and find a way to give the American people something that would hopefully minimize data collection and protect their data. ” she said. according to Go to Politico.
Cantwell is chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which is responsible for reviewing the bill before it is taken to a floor vote.Cantwell declined to provide a specific timeline for the bill and said he was considering holding public hearings on the bill, Reuters report.
Republican West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito called Cantwell’s request for an extension of the committee period a “delay tactic.” according to Go to Fox Business. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said the bill has been delayed through committee proceedings in order to be “killed.”
Wyden, like Murray and Cantwell, has concerns about the TikTok bill.
“These fields are evolving and changing so rapidly that moving forward too quickly or ignoring the facts can be very damaging,” Wyden said of the bill. Stated. according to In the Washington Post.
“History has taught us that when lawmakers rush to legislate on technology and social media, mistakes are made,” the senator said. Said March. Mr. Wyden also expressed concern about the Chinese government’s access to U.S. data.
Sen. Wyden doesn’t think it’s a good idea to put the app in the hands of former Trump Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the senator told Semaphore.
“If TikTok’s next owner is a MAGA Trump cronies backed by a Saudi sovereign wealth fund, I don’t see how America will be any safer,” Wyden said. Said.
Alumni from three senatorial offices are appearing in Congress to lobby on behalf of TikTok.
Ben McMakin, head of Murray legislative staff Lobbying Congress on behalf of TikTok through the Crossroads Strategy for nearly a decade from 1996 to 2005, disclosure as of Q4 2023 show. During his time as a lobbyist for TikTok, McMakin represented the app’s interests as Congress considered bills such as the U.S. Equipment Ban Act and the Anti-Social Chinese Communist Party Act.
The anti-social Chinese Communist Party law is actually prohibited TikTok banned under the US Device Act Banned Use of TikTok on federal devices.
Zachary Malabou, lobbyist Melman Consultingworked under Murray for almost 10 years, finishing She worked in his office as a senior advisor. Malabu worked on a team of lobbyists representing TikTok’s interests in the areas of artificial intelligence, social media regulation, and disclosure. show.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington)
Cantwell and Wyden also have several former staffers working on behalf of TikTok.
Rosemary Gutierrez worked Disclosure that Mr. Cantwell’s chief of staff and legislative director works as a lobbyist for TikTok through Melman Consulting. show.
Who is Kim Lipsey? employed As a lobbyist for TikTok, I lobbied on behalf of ByteDance. according to He served as staff director for the Senate Commerce Committee during the Cantwell administration, according to the company’s most recent disclosures.
Squared Communications, a consulting firm founded by former Cantwell chief of staff Michael Meehan, is also reportedly working on TikTok’s behalf, according to anonymous sources. Said Politico.
Alex Perkins is provided Currently, as Wyden’s attorney, lobbying activities TikTok development by Mehlman Consulting. McMakin, a former aide to Mr. Murray, also served as the top legislative staff member for Mr. Wyden from 1995 to 1996.
It was revealed that Wyden, Murray and Cantwell also received donations worth thousands of dollars from lobbyists for TikTok and ByteDance. show.
Some senators believe that addressing the alleged dangers of TikTok is an urgent matter that should be brought to the floor as soon as possible.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that “Senator Schumer said that in order for TikTok to survive, a U.S. company should buy TikTok from ByteDance.” Told.
“Senator Schumer has a responsibility to stand by his past statements and move forward with his efforts to force TikTok to secede from the Chinese Communist Party,” Cotton continued. “TikTok’s defenders know this bill will pass the Senate and are just trying to run out the clock.”
tick tock and part time dance According to disclosures, it spent millions of dollars on lobbying activities from late 2023 to 2024.
Wyden, Cantwell and Murray’s offices did not respond to DCNF’s requests for comment. TikTok and ByteDance also did not respond to requests for comment.
