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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) stated a ban on Chinese-owned TikTok “should be looked at.” To date, 30 states and the federal government have taken steps to ban TikTok from government-issued devices. However, more must be done to ensure the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) does not continue using TikTok to spy on and manipulate Americans. 

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to Schumer urging him to schedule a vote on Rubio’s bipartisan Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP) Act, which would ban TikTok and other similar apps from operating in the United States so long as they remain owned or substantially influenced by the CCP or other regimes of concern. Last week, Rubio reintroduced the legislation with Senator Angus King (I-ME). 

• “I was pleased to hear of your recent comments on the need to consider legislation to ban the [CCP] backed app, TikTok…. Given your role as Senate Majority Leader, you understand the threat posed by Beijing’s control of TikTok and the need to protect Americans from the growing reach of the CCP and other maligned regimes. As you schedule legislation for Senate consideration, I ask that S. 347, the ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act, be prioritized and brought for a vote without delay.” 

The full text of the letter is below. 

Dear Leader Schumer:

I was pleased to hear of your recent comments on the need to consider legislation to ban the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) backed app, TikTok.  As such, I draw your attention to the only bipartisan bill to address the national security threat that TikTok poses, my Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP) Act, and ask that you prioritize the legislation for floor consideration as soon as possible.

As you know, 30 states, and counting, have blocked TikTok from state devices.  This is in addition to enacted legislation that prohibits the app on most federal devices.  This is not an overreaction, but a necessary response to the ongoing threat the app, and others like it, pose to American’s personal data.  While these actions are a positive step, more must be done to ensure the CCP cannot use a Trojan Horse, operating under the guise of a video-sharing app, to track, monitor, and collect information on Americans, as well as manipulate the content to which they’re exposed. 

Given your role as Senate Majority Leader, you understand the threat posed by Beijing’s control of TikTok and the need to protect Americans from the growing reach of the CCP and other maligned regimes.  As you schedule legislation for Senate consideration, I ask that S. 347, the ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act, be prioritized and brought for a vote without delay.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,