new bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Mark Warner seeks to streamline the process for the Biden administration to restrict access to foreign technologies, including popular video-sharing app TikTok. While TikTok is not explicitly mentioned in the legislation, the bill empowers the Secretary of Commerce to ban foreign companies deemed a threat to national security, particularly from rival nations like China and Russia. Warner emphasized the urgent need to address potential surveillance risks and malign influence campaigns associated with platforms like TikTok, advocating for a proactive, strategic approach to technology regulation rather than reactive measures.
The legislation also aligns with ongoing discussions in Congress about the implications of TikTok, as the House Foreign Affairs Committee has proposed the DATA Act, which would direct the administration to sanction or ban TikTok if it violates user data security concerning the Chinese government. TikTok has consistently denied allegations regarding the storage of US user data in China and has engaged in negotiations to ensure its operational status in the country, including its Project Texas initiative aimed at safeguarding US data. As the discourse evolves, TikTok’s CEO is slated to address these concerns in an upcoming congressional hearing.
Source – https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/7/23629469/restrict-act-bytedance-tiktok-ban-bipartisan-bill-warner
