President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed into law a bill with provisions banning TikTok in the United States, pouring cold water on the platform’s multimillion-dollar lobbying effort that has tapped former members of Congress to try to influence policy on Capitol Hill. showered
TikTok and its China-based parent company ByteDance spent $3.1 million on lobbying in the U.S. between January and March as Congress considers a bill that would force ByteDance to sell its social media platform or face a ban. Newly revealed spending of $ show. As part of a multi-million dollar lobbying strategy, TikTok hired two former senators and three former congressmen to lobby on its behalf.
Current and former ByteDance employees claim TikTok continues to share U.S. users’ data with ByteDance, although the social media platform has repeatedly denied any ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Wall Street Journal reported. TikTok frequently pushes content to its users that reflects the Chinese Communist Party’s broader geopolitical policies. according to Recent research by the Network Infection Research Institute and Rutgers University.
Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and former Democratic Louisiana Sen. John Breaux were paid to lobby for TikTok. Strategy at a crossroadsdisclosure show. Crossroads Strategies was the 10th largest U.S. lobbying organization by revenue in 2023. according to Go to OpenSecrets.
TikTok’s lobbying frenzy has led to Congress’ Act to protect Americans from regulatory applications by foreign adversaries, which would force ByteDance to sell its platform or face a ban in the US.Just that law passed it A similar sell-or-ban provision was included in the House of Representatives in the foreign aid package signed into law by the president on Wednesday.
Chinese embassy officials reportedly tried to set up a meeting with Congressional staff after the bill passed the House of Representatives (Politico) report. According to the outlet, TikTok was not mentioned when officials first contacted them.
The disclosures show that Mr. Lott and Mr. Breaux represented TikTok’s interests, particularly regarding laws such as the Protecting Americans from Controlled Applications by Foreign Enemies Act.
Former Democratic New York State Representative. Joe Crowley and former Republican California congressman. Jeff Denham Both approached TikTok through Dentons, a global law firm. according to To disclosure. Dentons was the second largest law firm in the world. Number of people and the fifth largest revenue As of fiscal year 2022, according to Law.com.
People walk past an advertisement with the TikTok logo at a train station in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province, on January 21, 2024. (Photo by Greg Baker/AFP, Getty Images)
Crowley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lost He served as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus during the 2018 primary election chaos.
Another retired lawmaker, Republican rodney davis It also lobbies on behalf of TikTok through Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies in Illinois, and discloses its lobbying activities. show. Cozen O’Connor is a mid-sized company. scrape together Federal lobbying revenue in 2023 will exceed $8 million; maintain We have offices in six cities on the East Coast and Midwest.
The disclosure document reporting Davis, Crowley and Denham’s activities does not list any specific laws, instead stating that they engaged in “activities related to Internet technology.” [and] Regulation of Platform Content. ”
Mr. Lott, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Davis and Mr. Denham did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Some former lawmakers have voiced criticism of China while in office and have since lobbied on behalf of Chinese-owned platforms.
Davis has previously called China one of the world’s “bad actors” and called for tariffs on it in 2018. interview With Bloomberg. Similarly, Denham accused China interfered in the 2018 US election.
Lawmakers have accused ByteDance of being controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. raised There are concerns that TikTok could be used to spy on Americans.
The bulk of ByteDance and TikTok’s lobbying spending from January to March came in the form of in-house lobbyists, disclosures show.part time dance report It spent $2.7 million between January and March to influence public policy, using lobbyists hired by TikTok to do so.
During the spending spike in the first quarter, ByteDance lobbied both Congresses, as well as the Commerce Department and the Office of the President, disclosures show.
In addition to the millions spent shaping policy in the halls of Washington, D.C., TikTok has spent more than $4.5 million on ads aimed at changing public opinion against banning efforts, according to CNBC. report. TikTok and ByteDance spent over $8 million lobbying activities In 2023, according to To the outlet.
After multi-million dollar lobbying failure, TikTok statement It argued that recently passed provisions to sell or ban foreign aid packages are “unconstitutional.”
“This unconstitutional law bans TikTok and we will challenge it in court,” the statement said. “The facts and the law are clearly on our side and we believe that ultimately we will prevail.”
Melman ConsultingDentons, Crossroads Strategies and Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies did not respond to multiple requests for comment. AND partnerThe company is also lobbying for the app, but could not be reached for comment.
TikTok and ByteDance also did not immediately respond to DCNF’s requests for comment.
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