Current:Home > MarketsForced sale of TikTok "absolutely could" happen before Election Day, Rep. Mike Gallagher says-LoTradeCoin
Forced sale of TikTok "absolutely could" happen before Election Day, Rep. Mike Gallagher says
View Date:2024-12-23 19:55:42
Washington — Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican, said on Sunday that the forced sale of TikTok "absolutely could" happen before November's election, as legislation that would demand the sale — or ban the app altogether — makes its way through Congress.
"The closer we get to an election, the risk just gets greater and greater," Gallagher said on "Face the Nation" on Sunday of the threat posed by the widely popular video-sharing app.
- Transcript: Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Mike Gallagher on "Face the Nation," March 17, 2024
TikTok has for years been under fire by U.S. officials amid warnings that China's government could gain access to its data and use it to manipulate or spy on Americans. But a renewed push against the app gained momentum last week, as the House approved legislation that would compel the company to either sell the app within six months or be banned from U.S. app stores.
Gallagher, who spearheaded the bill, noted that "it would be in the financial interest of ByteDance's investors to effectuate before sale," saying that the user experience of the app would likely improve with the decreased concern of propaganda should the company move away from China-based ownership, causing TikTok to increase in value.
On the risks that TikTok could pose to Americans, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, said "this is a different type of threat than we've seen before." He noted that TikTok differs from other social media platforms because it's effectively controlled by a foreign adversary. And lawmakers in the House widely seem to agree, as the legislation saw significant bipartisan support just last week. But whether the Senate agrees remains to be seen.
Krishnamoorthi noted that he's had "very positive" conversations with senators who he says are "very interested in this bill and who were very surprised by the size or the margin of the overwhelming bipartisan support in the House." But how quickly Senate leadership decides to act on the bill is an open question.
Kara Swisher, a business and tech journalist who appeared separately Sunday on "Face the Nation," noted that "there's a lot of people who would buy" TikTok, like the owners of Microsoft, Meta, Apple or a consortium of companies. But she said the question will revolve around what exactly they're buying, noting that the algorithm behind the app will likely remain in China's control.
"What do you buy precisely because the algorithm's not coming with this company, the Chinese government would never let that happen," Swisher said. "You're buying 170 million say U.S. users and a great brand. But the algorithm isn't there."
Kaia HubbardKaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.
TwitterveryGood! (5977)
Related
- Early Week 11 fantasy football rankings: 30 risers and fallers
- Why Miley Cyrus Nearly Missed Her First-Ever Grammy Win
- GOP governors back at Texas border to keep pressure on Biden over migrant crossings
- What's going on at the border? A dramatic standoff between Texas and the White House.
- Subway rider who helped restrain man in NYC chokehold death says he wanted ex-Marine to ‘let go’
- 'Below Deck' returns for all-new Season 11: Cast, premiere date, how to watch and stream
- The 2024 Grammy Awards are here. Taylor Swift, others poised for major wins: Live updates
- Grammys 2024: Paris Jackson Covers Up 80+ Tattoos For Unforgettable Red Carpet Moment
- Oklahoma school district adding anti-harassment policies after nonbinary teen’s death
- Critics see conflict of interest in East Palestine train derailment cleanup: It's like the fox guarding the henhouse
Ranking
- Deebo Samuel explains 'out of character' sideline altercation with 49ers long snapper, kicker
- Mike The Situation Sorrentino and Wife Save Son From Choking on Pasta in Home Ring Video
- After record GOP walkout, Oregon lawmakers set to reconvene for session focused on housing and drugs
- Grammy Awards 2024 Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Look as the Stars Arrive
- In bizarro world, Tennessee plays better defense, and Georgia's Kirby Smart comes unglued
- See All the Couples Singing a Duet on the 2024 Grammys Red Carpet
- Judge rejects a claim that New York’s marijuana licensing cheats out-of-state applicants
- Oklahoma jarred by 5.1 magnitude earthquake
Recommendation
-
Tennessee suspect in dozens of rapes is convicted of producing images of child sex abuse
-
Taking the SAT in March? No need to sharpen a pencil
-
Bruce Willis and Ex Demi Moore Celebrate Daughter Tallulah's 30th Birthday
-
Bill Belichick thanks 'Patriots fans everywhere' in full-page ad in Boston Globe
-
Stock market today: Asian shares meander, tracking Wall Street’s mixed finish as dollar surges
-
Chiefs roster for Super Bowl 58: Starters, backups, depth chart for AFC champs vs. 49ers
-
Let Your Puppy Be a Part of the Big Football Game With These NFL-Themed Bowls, Toys, Bandanas, & More
-
Prosecutor appeals manslaughter charge against ex-Detroit police officer