Former Vice President Mike Pence has expressed concerns that bipartisan efforts to compel popular social media app TikTok to sever ties with China may become entangled in presidential politics leading up to the November election. Pence, through his organization Advancing American Freedom, is leading a campaign to push a bill through Congress that would mandate TikTok to divest from Chinese-owned company Bytedance or face a ban in the U.S.
The bill, which passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 352-65, has now reached the Senate but faces uncertainties regarding its timeline and fate. Despite concerns about delays in the Senate, Pence emphasized the urgency of addressing TikTok's data collection and its potential threat to national security.
While some senators have warned that bills often take longer to pass in the Senate compared to the House, others, like Sen. Mark Warner, have highlighted the national security implications of swift action. However, Sen. Josh Hawley has raised concerns about outside lobbying efforts stalling the bill's progress, suggesting that it may be an attempt to thwart the legislation.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell has indicated her intention to hold public hearings and a markup on the bill, a move supported by Sen. Ted Cruz. The involvement of former staffers lobbying on behalf of TikTok has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest in overseeing the bill's trajectory.
As the fate of the bill remains uncertain in the Senate, Pence continues to advocate for its swift passage, emphasizing the risks posed by TikTok's data collection practices and its ties to China. The upcoming November election adds a layer of complexity to the legislative process, with concerns about political maneuvering potentially impacting the bill's progress.
