A bill that could lead to a day later With TikTok passing the US House of Representatives, the company is doubling down on its strategy of urging users to call lawmakers. The app started sending new in-app messages asking users to “tell your senator how important TikTok is to you” and “ask them not to vote to ban TikTok.”
The new warnings are the second such message TikTok has sent to users regarding the bill. Company before the house vote Let them call their representatives in the chamber. The move may have backfired as lawmakers accused the company of trying to “interfere” with the legislative process, as congressional offices were flooded with calls from teenagers, many of whom were somewhat confused.
The latest notifications are more direct. “House votes to ban TikTok, affecting 170 million Americans like you,” it said. “Now, if the Senate votes, the future of the creativity and communities you love on TikTok could be shut down.” As with previous alerts, users can select “call now” and the app will find phone numbers when a zip code is provided.
TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the message underscores just how big a threat the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversaries from Controlled Applications Act” poses to the company. If passed, TikTok would have about six months to sell itself or face a US ban. While there have been several previous attempts to ban the app or force sales, no measure has so quickly gained bipartisan support. If passed by the Senate, President Joe Biden said would sign became law.
There is TikTok CEO Shou Chew directly telling users to “protect your constitutional rights” and promising that the company will “do everything in our power, including enforcing our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform.”
