Oregon's Congressional delegation split on TikTok ban

TikTok, one of the most widely used social networks on the planet, came one step closer to being banned in the U.S. on Wednesday, after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill blocking apps that are run by "foreign adversaries."

On Wednesday, March 13, the House passed HR 7521, the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act." The bill was passed with wide bi-partisan support.

If signed into law, the bill would give TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance six months days to sell to a U.S. approved organization. If not, it would become illegal for app stores such as Apple or Google to make the app available for download.

TikTok is one of the most popular social media companies in the world and is used by more than 170 million Americans. but the social network has been targeted by lawmakers before, who worry the Chinese government could use the app to access data of Americans, potentially compromising national security.

The bill's language isn't aimed at TikTok specifically, but any app "controlled by foreign adversary companies."

TikTok has denied that it could be used in such a way and has said it would not share data on American users with the Chinese government, if asked.

While the bill was easily passed in the House on Wednesday, Oregon's congressional delegation has been more divided in its support of the bill. Democrats Earl Bumenauer and Andrea Salinas joining Oregon Republicans Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez-DeRemer to pass the bill on Wednesday, while Democrats Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle voted against the bill.

Bentz, who represents Central Oregon in Congress, said the bill was about protecting national security.

"It is paramount that we take action to protect Americans from potential surveillance, data breaches, and targeted political messaging orchestrated by apps being controlled by adversarial foreign powers like the People’s Republic of China," Bentz wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "This bill provides a critical framework to safeguard our national security interests while minimizing disruptions to users and businesses."

Bonamici, who represents much of Northwest Oregon, said the bill didn't address the real concerns Americans have about data privacy.

"Instead of targeting one company, we should consider comprehensive legislation to improve how Americans access and control their data across all apps," she wrote in a statement following the vote. "I also have serious constitutional concerns about this bill. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution enshrines the protection of free speech and a press free from fear of retribution from the government. Protecting this right is a cornerstone of our democracy, and one that I am committed to upholding. We should return to the table and negotiate a more comprehensive and effective approach to data privacy."

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, where it faces a potentially tougher path to passing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said the bill will undergo a thorough review and isn't expected to come to a vote for weeks.

“It is not, for me, a redeeming quality that you’re moving very fast in technology because the history shows you make a lot of mistakes,” said Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden told the Associated Press.

This isn't the first time Oregonians have faced a ban on TikTok. In 2023, Oregon joined several other states when it passed a law banning TikTok from state-owned cell phones and computers and prohibiting state workers from using the app on state-owned devices. That bill was sponsored by Tigard Democratic Sen. Aaron Woods, who said at the time that a ban was about "prioritizing the safety and security of individuals, especially when it comes to their online presence."

"Banning TikTok and other apps controlled by hostile foreign governments on state devices is a necessary step to protect the privacy of users and safeguard national security," he said in 2023.