White House-Backed TikTok Bill Is Toothless, China Hawks Say

Biden administration allows Bill to defer TikTok action despite national security fears

Legislation backed by the White House “ban” TikTok is toothless, and contains a loophole that will allow the Biden administration to avoid taking any real action against the Chinese social network app. This is according to congressional China hawks who want more direct action.

The Senate bill known by the RESTRICTAct could be scuttled due to opposition from lawmakers. It would grant the president new powers to limit foreign adversaries’ use of social media apps. However, the bill does not mention TikTok. Critics claim the White House is supporting the legislation simply because it doesn’t require that the administration ban the social networking platform, which was deemed a national security risk.

“Congress already has produced multiple bills that would finish what the Trump administration started and ban TikTok,” Rep. Jim Banks (R., Ind.) The Washington Free Beacon. “The Biden administration is endorsing this half-measure to avoid confronting their biggest benefactors—China and Big Tech.”

While the bill doesn’t ban the TikTok app as such, it does contain a ban. Allow The Commerce Department will identify and possibly ban any technology. “poses undue or unacceptable risk to national security.” TikTok provided support for the bill praising It can be used for addressing “national security concerns” Without “censoring millions of Americans” Who use the app.

Democrats are hesitant to ban the platform because of allegations that China is spying on Americans and pushing Communist propaganda. This app is popular among its progressive base, and has been used by Biden as an outreach tool for voters. TikTok Recently hired SKDK is a Democratic lobbying firm that has deep ties to both the White House as well as the Democratic Senate leadership. Anita Dunn is a senior advisor to Biden.

China hawks claim the RESTRICT Bill, drafted by Republican senator John Thune in South Dakota, is a ploy to stop China from acquiring its goods. Democratic senator Mark Warner (Va.), and John Thune (Republican) are well-intentioned. However, the RESTRICT Act includes a provision that allows the Department of Commerce not to take any action until the end of the long-running national security review of TikTok. It is being performed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) last week publicly came out against the RESTRICT Act, saying it “gives the illusion of action, but it’s not action.”

“I think [Warner’s] intentions are good in terms of how he views the whole thing, but his bill will not ban TikTok,” Rubio said. “I think that’s what the White House wants. I think he’s trying to offer a bill that the White House will be supportive of and that he thinks can get passed.”

Experts warn that the bill could shield TikTok’s concrete actions from concrete action.

“There’s a risk that the Biden administration could use provisions within the Warner-Thune bill as justification for not touching TikTok, and further delaying action,” Michael Sobolik is a China expert at the American Foreign Policy Council. Sobolik cites the provision that allows for the completion of the national security assessment, which he claims is a good thing. “stuck” in government bureaucracy.

The Thune-Warner bill allows the Biden administration to have more flexibility than any other TikTok legislation.

One bill, which was spearheaded by Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (Texas), would require the administration to take a decision by a certain deadline on banning TikTok, while another, championed Rubio and Rep. Mike Gallagher(R., Wis.), would impose an outright ban. These bills are receiving more attention. reportedly TikTok leadership was forced by the Chinese Communist Party to contemplate severing its American arm.

Capitol Hill sources expressed concern about Thune-Warner’s bill, which they described simply as a TikTok ban.

“The White House isn’t fooling anyone,” One senior Republican aide said so.

A senior Republican aide stated that the White House’s record with TikTok, China and China make it difficult to believe that they will act unless Congress makes them.

“This is the same administration that invites TikTok influencers to the White House,” The aide said so. “It has shown no inclination to actually take action on TikTok.”