WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) introduced the Anti-CCP Espionage Via Social Media Act of 2021. This legislation aims to protect Americans’ data from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Reps. Yvette Herrell (R-NM), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Jim Banks (R-IN) and Greg Steube (R-FL) cosponsored the legislation.
“TikTok poses a major threat to the United States and our national security due to its ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” said Rep. McClain. “My commonsense legislation ensures Americans’ data is not accessed, stored and nefariously used by the CCP through TikTok.”
The CCP is invested in Chinese firms like ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. This legislation would require ByteDance to divest itself of any assets within 90 days of enactment. The CCP’s surveillance in applications such as TikTok continues to raise U.S. national security concerns.
Furthermore, this legislation directs the U.S. Attorney General to investigate efforts by the People’s Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party to utilize mobile applications to perform espionage on U.S. citizens and report to Congress with the Department of Justice’s plan to counter these efforts.
Rep. McClain introduced this bill as part of the Republican Study Committee’s initiative to counter Communist China.
To read the bill text, click here.
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