TikTok Ban On Government Devices Will Get House Vote

Topline

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports legislation banning TikTok from federally issued devices, according to reports, following unanimous approval by the Senate Wednesday and a surge of state governments banning the app on national security grounds.

Key Facts

A spokesperson for Pelosi told Reuters that Pelosi would support adding the TikTok provision to proposed government spending legislation next week.

The No TikTok on Government Devices Act, sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), would ban TikTok from all government-issued devices with exceptions for using the app to develop possible risk mitigation measures.

Republican governors in New Hampshire, Idaho and Georgia recently issued executive orders banning the social media app from state-issued devices, joining North Dakota, Iowa, Alabama, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota and Maryland.

A companion bill was introduced to the House last year by Colorado Rep. Ken Buck (R).

What To Watch For

The bill will require presidential approval if the House approves the ban and its inclusion in government spending legislation next week, though Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House has remained non-committed to the topic.

Tangent

Sen. Marco Rubio announced larger bipartisan legislation Tuesday that would ban TikTok in the U.S., citing national security concerns that the app—owned by Chinese firm ByteDance—could be used to spy on Americans. His proposed Act would prohibit and block all transactions from any social media company in or “under the influence of” China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela, though it only directly refers to TikTok. Complementing Rubio’s proposal, companion legislation sponsored by Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) was also announced. There is no timeline for when the legislation will be voted on.

Key Background

A release sent by the U.S. Commerce Department said TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have the means to “threaten the national security, foreign policy and economy of the U.S.” following a failed order by Former President Donald Trump banning downloads of the app and WeChat in 2020. President Joe Biden promoted a security review of the app after revoking Trump’s order, according to the Washington Post. Recent bans by state governments follow a warning by FBI Director Chris Wray, who said TikTok could “technically compromise” U.S. devices while the Chinese government could use data collected from the app to “influence operations,” according to Reuters.

Further Reporting

Senate Approves Bill Banning TikTok From Federal Device As GOP Campaign Against Social Media App Grows (Forbes)

Bipartisan Ban On TikTok Introduced By Sen. Rubio (Forbes)