China lobbies Congress behind closed doors on TikTok, staffers say

The social media platform TikTok has been the subject of legislation in Congress that could force its sale from its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance. | Loic Venance/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Chinese Embassy has held meetings with congressional staff to lobby against the legislation that would force a sale of TikTok, according to two of the Capitol Hill staffers.

Additionally, in a separate phone call to set up a meeting, an embassy official said that the Chinese ambassador was interested in discussing, among other matters, the House’s TikTok bill, according to a third staffer, a Democratic Senate aide who was approached. TikTok said in a statement that the embassy meetings were “news to us, and it’s absurd to ask us to comment on anonymous sources we know nothing about.”

“This is not about lobbying for a single company,” the spokesperson added, “but about whether all Chinese companies can be treated fairly.” TikTok has armed itself with dozens of lobbyists and spent millions of dollars to push back on the narrative around the company in Washington, where the app’s opponents have repeatedly argued that it’s a powerful tool for China to influence sentiment in the United States. The company has also spent millions on advertisements to rally public support against the legislation and leveraged its consumer base via push alerts that allowed the app’s users to easily call Congress.

“If there were other parties assisting them, like U.S. lobbying firms or strategic communications firms crafting message and preparing talking points, things like that, might have registration risk,” said Laufman. “Embassy officials here would not.”

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

TikTok aside, Congress has its eye on the U.S. money going into ChinaGreater Congressional scrutiny on U.S. investments into China means any new rules or restrictions may outlast presidential terms and become part of U.S. law.
Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »

Congress Targets TikTok's Chinese Owner in Data Collection CrackdownCongress is becoming more aggressive in reining in the data collection industry, with a bill targeting TikTok's Chinese owner. However, privacy experts argue that more needs to be done to address the growing market of buying and selling Americans' data. Some lawmakers propose regulations that govern data collection and prohibit the sale of certain information.
Source: wsyx6 - 🏆 444. / 53 Read more »

Lawmakers see rise in threatening messages as TikTok users swarm CongressAfter TikTok urged users to call their representatives in protest of a potential ban, U.S. Capitol Police are investigating menacing calls as users hound Congress.
Source: adndotcom - 🏆 293. / 63 Read more »

Lawmakers see rise in threatening messages as TikTok users swarm CongressAfter TikTok urged users to call their representatives in protest of a potential ban, U.S. Capitol Police are investigating menacing calls as users swarm Congress.
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »

Congress is focusing on the wrong problem with TikTok bill, experts warnThis week lawmakers went a step further and passed a data-privacy bill stopping certain companies from selling information to 'foreign adversary' countries.
Source: wsyx6 - 🏆 444. / 53 Read more »

One of Congress' Most Popular TikTok Stars Voted for Bill That May Ban AppRep. Jeff Jackson said he believes TikTok will 'continue to operate' after the House passed a bill critics say amounts to a ban.
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »