Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement Opposing Bill to Ban TikTok
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement regarding her vote against H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The legislation today passed the House by a vote of 352-65.
“Today, I voted NO on rushed legislation to ban TikTok from American app stores. While there are significant national security threats to data privacy that must be dealt with, they should be dealt with comprehensively. Congress must prioritize the enactment of broad-ranging data privacy laws that safeguard the data of American consumers against both foreign and domestic threats.
“TikTok has provided a forum for freedom of expression, helped small business, and empowered creators to share their art across the globe. While it's undeniable that TikTok's data collection practices need addressing, the legislative process behind this particular bill was rushed and done in secrecy. If we are going to address this problem thoroughly, Congress must improve transparency and better inform the public about the potential national security risks posed by companies like ByteDance.”