Rep. Langworthy Votes to Force TikTok to Cut Ties with the Chinese Communist Party
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy voted in favor H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which prevents app store availability or web hosting services in the United States for ByteDance-controlled applications, including TikTok, unless the application severs ties to entities like ByteDance that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary, as defined by Congress in Title 10.
In addition, the bill creates a process for the President to designate certain, specifically defined social media applications that are subject to the control of a foreign adversary—per Title 10—and pose a national security risk. Designated applications will be prohibited from app store availability and web hosting services in the U.S. unless they sever ties to entities subject to the control of a foreign adversary through divestment.
Prior to the vote, Congressman Langworthy gave a floor speech urging his colleagues to support the bill.
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Mr. Speaker, with an estimated 170 million Americans using TikTok every month, the app is dominating the social media landscape, and every single one of these users, including American children, agreed to the terms and conditions of the app, allowing TikTok to access all of the personal data on the user’s phone.
This is a significant national security risk as TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is owned by the Chinese Communist Party — meaning TikTok is essentially operating as Communist Chinese malware.
With every dance challenge and lip-sync video, American users are unknowingly contributing to a vast surveillance apparatus, and the potential for abuse of this data is chilling, ranging from targeted advertising to espionage and intelligence gathering.
Additionally, TikTok's pervasive influence among young Americans makes it an ideal tool for the CCP to propagate its narratives, shape perceptions, and advance its geopolitical agenda.
In light of these alarming realities, decisive action is warranted to mitigate the risks TikTok poses in its current form. That’s why I’m urging my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7521 to force TikTok to break up with the CCP.
It’s time to wake up to the real national security threat at hand.”