Oregon’s D.C. delegation splits on TikTok ban; Bentz cites ‘national security’

Published 2:00 pm Friday, March 15, 2024

TikTok, one of the most widely used social networks on the planet, came one step closer to being banned in the U.S. on Wednesday, after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill blocking apps that are run by “foreign adversaries.”

The bill, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, passed with wide bi-partisan support.

If signed into law, it would give TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance six months to sell to a U.S. approved organization. If not, it would become illegal for app stores such as Apple or Google to make the app available for download.

TikTok, which is used by more than 170 million Americans, was targeted previously by lawmakers, who worry the Chinese government could use the app to access data of Americans, potentially compromising national security.

The bill’s language isn’t aimed at TikTok specifically, but any app “controlled by foreign adversary companies.”

TikTok has denied that it could be used in such a way and has said it would not share data on American users with the Chinese government, if asked.

While the bill was easily passed in the House, Oregon’s congressional delegation has been more divided in its support. Democrats Earl Bumenauer and Andrea Salinas joined Oregon Republicans Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer to pass the bill, while Democrats Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle voted against it.

Bentz, who represents much of Eastern and Central Oregon and the Rogue Valley in Congress, said the bill was about protecting national security.

“It is paramount that we take action to protect Americans from potential surveillance, data breaches, and targeted political messaging orchestrated by apps being controlled by adversarial foreign powers like the People’s Republic of China,” Bentz wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This bill provides a critical framework to safeguard our national security interests while minimizing disruptions to users and businesses.”

Bonamici, who represents much of northwest Oregon, said the bill didn’t address the real concerns Americans have about data privacy.

“Instead of targeting one company, we should consider comprehensive legislation to improve how Americans access and control their data across all apps,” she wrote in a statement following the vote. “I also have serious constitutional concerns about this bill. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution enshrines the protection of free speech and a press free from fear of retribution from the government. Protecting this right is a cornerstone of our democracy, and one that I am committed to upholding. We should return to the table and negotiate a more comprehensive and effective approach to data privacy.”

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, where it faces a potentially tougher path to passing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said the bill will undergo a thorough review and isn’t expected to come to a vote for weeks.

“It is not, for me, a redeeming quality that you’re moving very fast in technology because the history shows you make a lot of mistakes,” Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, told the Associated Press.

This isn’t the first time Oregonians have faced a ban on TikTok. In 2023, Oregon joined several other states when it passed a law banning TikTok from state-owned cell phones and computers and prohibiting state workers from using the app on state-owned devices. That bill was sponsored by Tigard Democratic Sen. Aaron Woods, who said at the time that a ban was about “prioritizing the safety and security of individuals, especially when it comes to their online presence.”

“Banning TikTok and other apps controlled by hostile foreign governments on state devices is a necessary step to protect the privacy of users and safeguard national security,” he said in 2023.

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