On Monday, Jan. 20, Senator Rand Paul and US Representative Ro Khanna introduced a repeal bill to undo the “ban or sell” TikTok law; a law which is otherwise known as Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
In a press release, both parties claim that the banning of TikTok is a violation of US users’ right to freedom of speech — an argument that was recently quashed by the Supreme Court.
What Did Paul and Khanna Say About The Repeal Bill?
“They tell you this is about China. About security. About safety. That’s a lie. This is about control. About fear. About silencing you,” Paul said. “A government that can ban an app, can ban a book. A government that can silence a platform, can silence a person. Today, it’s TikTok. Tomorrow, it’s your news. Next week, it’s your voice.”
Meanwhile, Khanna emphasized the adverse impact a TikTok ban could have on the “livelihood” of small business owners. “When the app went down temporarily because of the ban, I heard from a small business owner in Mississippi who saw their sales dramatically decline,” he added. “It’s hurting ordinary people. Repealing the ban will help ensure that TikTok does not go dark again.”
The truth is it’s very unlikely that this repeal bill will get the support it needs to pass. Still, it’s the only viable alternative to Trump’s proposed joint venture, wherein the US buys and owns 50% of TikTok. But maybe we’re wrong and the bill will be passed after all. Who knows? Stranger things have happened.
