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A prominent political advocacy group affiliated with former Vice President Mike Pence is intensifying its efforts to encourage Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to schedule a vote on a pivotal bill targeting TikTok.
The group, Advancing American Freedom, has initiated a $2 million advertising campaign supporting the legislation, which mandates TikTok’s parent company in China to divest from the app or face a ban in US app stores and web hosting services. This campaign is set to influence public opinion and legislative action in Washington, DC, and several critical Senate swing states such as Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Various ads purchased by the group include verbiage like “Republicans and Democrats in Washington agree on one thing — we need to stop China by stopping TikTok.”
The bill, known as the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, previously gained substantial support in the House, passing with a commanding 352-65 vote. Despite this overwhelming approval, the momentum has stalled upon reaching the Senate, sparking debates on the future of the legislation and the urgency of addressing some issues presented by TikTok. Senate Majority Leader Schumer’s response to the bill’s advancement has left many wondering about the Senate’s plan to address these concerns. Last month, Senator Schumer said, “The Senate will review the legislation when it comes over from the House,” indicating a cautious approach to immediate legislative action.
Amid this uncertainty, key figures such as Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner have voiced support for the bill but acknowledged the unclear timeline for a Senate vote. “They moved obviously very aggressively and quickly in the House. I’m not sure the Senate has that same kind of timetable,” Warner said.
Another view:
Some have argued that banning TikTok could increase the market dominance of other social media giants, such as Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram). TikTok has emerged as a serious competitor in the social media landscape, offering unique content creation tools and algorithms that have appealed to younger audiences worldwide. Those against a ban say without TikTok in the marketplace, there’s a risk that the remaining social media companies could consolidate their power further, leading to a less competitive market.
