TikTok Booted from Tech Lobbying Group as Capitol Hill Pressure Mounts

Photo Credit: Tingey Law Firm

TikTok is prepared to fight the United States government over its divesture this week—but it will do so without Washington tech lobbying group NetChoice.

The ByteDance-owned social media giant has been a member of NetChoice since 2019, but the Washington-based lobbying group booted the company from its membership roll this week. According to people who spoke with Politico anonymously, the decision was made after an investigation by the office of Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

Last month, Congress passed legislation and President Joe Biden signed said legislation that requires Chinese company ByteDance to divest from TikTok entirely—or face a ban in the United States. National security concerns and data privacy are at the forefront of the fight, with TikTok’s algorithm and what data it collects among the chief concerns.

“The two people familiar with the matter said NetChoice—whose tech advocacy often leans to the right—came under pressure from Scalise’s office to dump TikTok,” Politico reports. “A third person said that while no threat was made, NetChoice was told that the House Select Committee on China would be investigating groups associated with TikTok and chose to sever ties as a result.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Steve Scalise said, “It should not come as a surprise to those representing TikTok that as long as TikTok remains connected to the CCP, Congress will continue its rigorous oversight efforts to safeguard Americans from foreign threats.”

NetChoice has chosen to remain silent on the removal of TikTok from its membership rolls as the increased scrutiny in Washington has ramped up. Despite that, the lobbying group was responsible for helping TikTok get a Montana law that would ban the app blocked by a judge. The group filed an advocacy brief in Montana on behalf of TikTok as recently as Monday—so this development is new this week.

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