Today, John Moolenaar, the Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, addressed concerns regarding TikTok's ownership by ByteDance, highlighting critical national security risks. At an event titled "How to Save TikTok and Protect U.S. National Security" held at Capitol Hill, Moolenaar did not mince words on his stance against Chinese control over the popular video-sharing platform.
He emphasized, “We are at a critical juncture in the fight against Chinese influence over our digital infrastructure.” Moolenaar stated the committee's position that any arrangement allowing ByteDance to retain control of TikTok would be both unacceptable and illegal under U.S. law.
The Chairman presented the bipartisan decision behind the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This legislation demands the complete divestiture of TikTok by ByteDance, dismissing previous attempts like Project Texas, which he argued failed to protect user data adequately despite promises.
“A bad deal would lead to legal chaos, damage investor confidence, and set a dangerous precedent for foreign control of U.S. tech,” Moolenaar continued. He underscored the potential legal and economic consequences should ByteDance continue its involvement with the platform, which could result in litigation against major U.S. tech companies and threaten national tech infrastructure stability.
Moolenaar concluded by expressing hope for a favorable resolution: “There’s still time for a ‘deal of the century’ — but only one that fully complies with the law." He reiterated his commitment to ensuring compliance with congressional laws for any forthcoming agreements.
