U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Bar TikTok on Federal and Personal Devices
A pair of Republican lawmakers in Congress introduced a bill on Wednesday aimed at banning the TikTok app from devices across the United States. Senate member Josh Hawley and Representative Ken Buck led the effort, arguing that the platform poses a national security risk tied to China. Buck said on social media that TikTok is connected to the Chinese Communist Party and has been used to monitor Americans.
The proposal would require executive action to prohibit United States entities or individuals from engaging in trade with the parent firm of TikTok, ByteDance. It also directs the Director of National Intelligence to prepare a congressional report outlining activities that lawmakers view as threats carried out by TikTok, including the potential access of American data by the Chinese government. TikTok has consistently rejected these claims, noting that it does not censor user content on orders from Beijing and that user data is not accessible by the Chinese government according to corporate statements.
Earlier, in December, Congress enacted a law restricting the use of TikTok on federal government devices. Several states have taken steps in a similar direction, with states like Texas, Alabama, Virginia, and Tennessee implementing bans for state devices. Some jurisdictions, such as Indiana, have pursued legal action against ByteDance, alleging that the company enables covert espionage activities.
Back in 2019, amid broader tensions with China, the Trump administration pressed TikTok to transfer its operations to American entities, threatening a nationwide ban if that did not occur. The situation evolved as TikTok gained widespread popularity, extending beyond its core user base. The platform now counts more than 100 million users in the United States and has grown into one of the world’s most widely used social networks, especially among younger audiences. The ongoing policy debates surrounding TikTok reflect concerns about data privacy, national security, and corporate governance in a digital age where social media platforms cross borders with ease. (attribution: national security briefings and public statements by lawmakers)