Sen. Josh Hawley accused fellow Republican Sen. Rand Paul of advocating for China’s proper to spy on Individuals after Mr. Paul torpedoed Mr. Hawley’s effort to cross a invoice banning TikTok on Wednesday.
Mr. Hawley, Missouri Republican, sought to advance his proposal blocking the China-founded app by unanimous consent, and not using a roll-call vote, on Wednesday night however Mr. Paul objected.
The Kentucky Republican mentioned worry of China’s communism ought not trigger Congress to disregard Individuals’ First Modification rights through a ban on TikTok.
“To those that are frightened that the Chinese language authorities would possibly by some means now have entry to hundreds of thousands of Individuals’ teenage data, understand that every one social media sucks up private information that individuals voluntarily present,” Mr. Paul mentioned on the Senate flooring. “In case you’re going to ban TikTok, what’s subsequent?”
Earlier than supporting a nationwide ban on TikTok, Mr. Paul inspired Individuals to contemplate whether or not they needed President Biden or any future president to censor data.
Mr. Hawley mentioned he was outraged by Mr. Paul’s argument in favor of TikTok being allowed to proceed to function within the U.S.
TikTok’s China-founded guardian firm ByteDance has sparked considerations amongst lawmakers who worry that China’s coverage of military-civil fusion will pressure cooperation between the corporate and the communist authorities.
Mr. Hawley mentioned Mr. Paul’s protection of TikTok amounted to a protection of China’s proper to spy on Individuals.
“The senator from Kentucky mentions the Invoice of Rights, I need to’ve missed the best of Chinese language governments to spy on Individuals in our Invoice of Rights as a result of that’s what we’re speaking about right here,” Mr. Hawley mentioned.
Mr. Paul mentioned he opposed communism however wouldn’t take First Modification recommendation from individuals who didn’t suppose free speech protections lengthen to proponents of communism. He then warned Individuals to “beware of people that peddle worry” and those that peddle half-truths.
“Those that imagine that the First Modification doesn’t shield this speech are within the improper and so they’ll discover that out when the Supreme Court docket guidelines on this,” Mr. Paul mentioned. “I object.”
Mr. Hawley replied that “the reality will carry the day” and he would proceed to battle for restrictions on TikTok.
Mr. Hawley’s laws shouldn’t be the one Senate invoice proposing restrictions on TikTok, and different proposals are gaining bipartisan assist.
Sens. Mark Warner, Virginia Democrat, and John Thune, South Dakota Republican, have led a coalition of 18 senators on laws empowering Mr. Biden to ban TikTok.
Sens. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, and Angus King, Maine unbiased who caucuses with Democrats, have individually labored on a invoice to ban TikTok with Democratic and Republican lawmakers who launched companion laws within the Home.
Mr. Hawley’s effort to advance his laws got here after Mr. Paul revealed an op-ed in Louisville’s Courier Journal defending the TikTok app in opposition to proposed bans. Mr. Paul mentioned banning TikTok would trigger Republicans to lose elections for a few years.
