TikTok’s Desperate Plea: Users Urged to Contact Politicians Amidst Threat of Ban

TikTok users are starting to panic, as a possible total ban of the Chinese-owned application is getting closer.

On Thursday TikTok users received pop-ups asking them to “stop the TikTok shutdown” by contacting local representatives and asking them to vote against legislation that could completely ban the app.

It reads: “Call your Representative Now.” When you connect, tell them where you are from and that you want to vote against the TikTok Ban.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee discussed the bipartisan legislation on Thursday. It was described as a way to “protect national security in the United States against the threat of foreign-controlled applications.”

If the bill passes, TikTok would be required to divest itself from its Chinese parent ByteDance. Otherwise, all app stores in America will be banned.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-WI, who sponsors the legislation has accused the company of intimidation.

He told reporters that tomorrow, the issue could be misinformation about an election. “With the narrowly-focused bill that we have drafted, TikTok can continue to exist and people can do what they want with it as long as there is separation.”

In a Wednesday statement, TikTok refuted claims that the legislation did not constitute an outright prohibition and indicated they had no plans to divest from their Chinese ownership.

The statement said, “This bill is a ban on TikTok no matter how hard the authors try and disguise it.” “This legislation will violate the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans, and deny 5 million small businesses a platform that they depend on to grow and generate jobs.”

The White House indicated that they would support legislation despite Joe Biden’s recent joining of the app. His advisers are concerned that this move may damage his image with younger people. Even if he were to withdraw his support, a supermajority in Congress could override him.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the Press Secretary, also rejected the notion that the legislation meant banning the application altogether.

She explained, “We don’t think this is about banning apps — that is not what it is — but ensuring their ownership isn’t in the hand of those who could do us harm.” “This is all about national security and that’s what we are focused on.”