Nine Senate Backers of Potential TikTok Ban Use App Themselves, Sparking Criticism and Legal Action from Platform

Rekindling controversy surrounding lawmakers’ votes on a bill proposing a forced sale or ban of popular app TikTok in the United States if its Chinese owners fail to divest by early 2025, nine senators who voted for this legislation have active accounts themselves. The package passed with support from Democrats and Republicans alike but has drawn criticism due to potential economic devastation it could cause businesses that rely on the platform’s popularity. Three House members running in competitive races also use TikTok frequently, despite voicing concerns over its Chinese ownership structure previously. A spokesperson for TikTok expressed frustration at this apparent hypocrisy and called out politicians using their accounts to connect with voters while pushing measures potentially harming those same constituents’ businesses. Some lawmakers have explained that they would prefer a broader debate on social media issues, particularly as related to young users; one of them emphasised his concerns regarding privacy and screen addiction but ultimately voted for the bill due to its inclusion in an urgent security funding package. TikTok has pledged legal action against this legislation’s implementation, citing First Amendment grounds.