'Divestment, Not Censorship': Gallagher and Bipartisan Coalition Hold Press Conference on Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Applications Act
WASHINGTON D.C. — Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) led a bipartisan press conference on legislation the pair introduced yesterday to prevent app store availability or web hosting services in the U.S. for ByteDance-controlled applications, including TikTok, unless the application severs ties to entities like ByteDance that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary, as defined by Congress in Title 10.
In addition, the bill creates a process for the President to designate certain, specifically defined social media applications that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary—per Title 10—and pose a national security risk. Designated applications will face a prohibition on app store availability and web hosting services in the U.S. unless they sever ties to entities subject to the control of a foreign adversary through divestment.
Continue reading below for highlights from the press conference.
CHAIRMAN GALLAGHER: "Whether you’re a mom worried about your kids using a new social media app, or a college freshman on TikTok to connect with new friends, I say this: If you value your personal freedom and privacy online, if you care about America’s national security at home, and, yes, even if you want TikTok to stick around in the United States – this bill offers the only real step towards each of these goals."
(Click HERE for a transcript of Chairman Gallagher's FULL remarks)
RANKING MEMBER KRISHNAMOORTHI: "This bill is not a ban, and it’s not really about TikTok. It’s a choice.
We implore ByteDance to sell Tiktok so that its American users can enjoy their dance videos, their bad lip-synch, everything else that goes with Tiktok."
REP. MIKIE SHERRILL: “I’m speaking to you today as a veteran, as a legislator, and as a mother of four school age children.
And I can tell you that when it comes to media apps like TikTok — we are failing our children and we are failing our country.”
REP. CHIP ROY: "China makes its teens use… a version [of TikTok] with different content. They’re targeting our children and it’s purposeful...
We should have technology like this not being controlled by the CCP or our adversaries — it is that simple.”
REP. RITCHIE TORRES: "The Chinese Communist Party has no 1st Amendment right to control TikTok any more than the Soviet Union had a 1st Amendment right to control ABC, NBC, and CBS during the Cold War.
TikTok has become a prohibitive national security risk."
REP. KAT CAMMACK: “For anyone confused about the long-term goal of this legislation, China is building a sophisticated language model to influence the U.S.
Never in my life would I see Americans apologizing & doing the bidding of our adversaries.”
REP. DUSTY JOHNSON: “I think Americans would have rightfully been concerned if the Soviets had purchased the Wall Street Journal."
This platform does not have to be shut down. It just has to be a platform that does not serve the interests of one of America’s adversaries.”
REP. BOB LATTA: "TikTok's CEO admitted in front of our committee that yes, the Chinese Communist Party has access to our user data...this should alarm every single American.
TikTok presents a clear and present danger to our national security.”