Congress is finally doing something that many Americans have been waiting for, holding TikTok accountable for their relationship to the People’s Republic of China. Legislators from both sides of the aisle are coming together to solve this unique challenge.
Last week, the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party Select Committee, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and a bipartisan coalition introduced HR 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which would require ByteDance, the CCP-controlled parent company, to divest TikTok over stark revelations of how the app is used for espionage by the Chinese government.
Beyond the arduous machinations of the lawmaking process, it is clear ByteDance will not give up easily. They have accumulated a legion of high-priced lobbyists, megadonors, and D.C. insiders who will be out in force, pressuring members with every trick in the book. It was no doubt one of these lobbyists who activated TikTok’s virtual mob, and no doubt they continue to call and intimidate members of Congress.
One TikTok-stan hard at work has been Republican megadonor and ByteDance investor Jeffrey Yass, who reportedly has a $33 billion stake in the Chinese company. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, he has used his wealth and influence in Republican circles to direct politicians and conservative groups who had previously opposed the Trump administration’s successful banning of Huawei, ZTE, or China Telecom, to suddenly be pearl-clutching in defense of TikTok. In fact, the New York Post reported he was “bullying” Republican members to oppose the divestiture proposal.
It
